down 't is he that strengthens our Hearts in the day of Trouble and weakens the Hands of our Enemies IX The Name of Christ hath not that fragrant Smell nor appears of that great Worth and Excellency till poured forth in the Ministry of the Word by the Spirit and in his Ordinances that is the way of opening this precious Alabaster Box which like Pipes convey the golden Oil to the Lamps thus Christ manifested the Savour of his Knowledg by the Apostles in several places X The Lord Jesus hath a great plenty of all good and sweet Perfumes and precious things in him and he is free to part with them or communicate of his Fulness unto us Simile I. ALL natural Ointments are of humane Composition they are compounded by Men hence called the Ointment of the Apothecary God created the Materials Man learned the Skil of using them II. Natural Ointments are of great Value but their Worth is known and may be computed Mary's Box of Precious Ointment was valued but at or little more than three hundred Pence III. Natural Ointments will not keep their Vertue the most fragrant of them in the World will tho kept never so closly and carefully in time corrupt and lose its Savour Dead Flies make the Ointment of the Apothecary to send forth a stinking Smell IV. Other Ointment is of a wasting Nature take but one Dram out and there is an Abatement and so by little and little it will diminish and shrink till it comes to nothing V. Other Ointments are only good for the Body one sort pleaseth the sensual part and another makes the Face and Skin of a Man to shine VI. No one kind of natural Ointments hath all excellent Qualities in it some may be of a fragrant Smell but not healing others may be good for healing but not of a fragrant Smell VII A Person may be anointed with precious Ointment and in a little time lose all the Scent and Savour of it VIII The Effects which are wrought by other Ointments are not quick and sudden cannot heal cleanse nor make the Face smooth and beautiful in a moment The Virgins that were to delight the Persian King must be anointed six Months before their Beauty was perfect IX A very small Quantity of other Ointment doth but little Good nor worketh but small Effects whether for healing beautifying or perfuming one Drop will not perfume a whole Room c. Disparity I. BUt this spiritual Ointment was not made by Man the Divinity of Christ is from everlasting not made nor created and his humane Nature was filled with the Spirit he was anointed with the Oil of Gladness above his Fellows that so he might pour forth this sweet and sacred Unction to his Saints II. The Lord Christ is of inestimable Worth and invaluable all the Pearls and Diamonds in the World are not worth the least drop or dram of this good and pretious Ointmenâ—â— those that have it would not part with it for ten Thousands of Rivers of Oil one drop of it infinitely excels all the choicest Ointments in the World III. The duration of this holy Ointment is such that it will never decay Jesus and the Grace of Jesus is incorruptible he is as sweet as Fragrant and of the same Vertue he was in Abrahams and Abels time and so will abide for ever for he is without beginning or end of Days nothing can get into this pretious Ointment to make it unsavoury to a grievous Soul the Cross it self is sweet in him IV. Jesus Christ hath anointed thousands of the Godly in all Ages since the Beginning and yet the Vessel is as full as ever 't is always pouring forth it ever runs yea and that freely too yet the Ointment doth not diminish there is not in him one Dram less than there was at the beginning V. The Spiritual Ointment is for the suppling cleansing and healing of the Soul it causes an internal Beauty and puts a Lustre on the inward Man which God and holy Angels delight in VI. All Excellencies meet together in Christ there is nothing that is of Use Profit Pleasure nor Delight but it is to be found in him yea and that in the highest Degree VII He that is anointed with this Ointment will smell of it as long as he lives there will be some Savour of Jesus Christ remaining though his Lips and Life may not be always alike sweet and fragrant VIII Such are the Effects and powerful Operations of the Lord Jesus Christ this spiritual Ointment that no sooner he touches the blind with his Finger but they see and the Leopards are cleansed at a word of his Mouth as soon as ever one drop of this Ointment is applyed by Faith to the Soul the Effect follows one moment is sufficient for Christ to accomplish his Work tho he doth not always work so speedily IX A very small Quantity of this spiritual Ointment doth wonderful things the least measure of true Grace hath glorious and marvellous Effects as it is spoken of Faith tho it be as small as a grain of Mustard Seed yet c. a little of this Ointment perfumes the whole Soul House and Family of a Saint Application FRom hence you may further take notice of and admire the Excellencies of Jesus Christ in that he is compared to all things that are good pleasant and delightful well may he be call'd wonderful O! how wonderful and pleasant is that precious and good Name that is composed of so many excellent things 2. This should draw our Hearts towards him make us love him and delight in him and long and desire after him His Name being as Ointment poured forth it follows therefore do the Virgins love thee Cant. 1.3 3. This also demonstrates the Excellencies of his Grace 't is the Graces of Christ that make him be compared to Ointment poured forth his sweet Ointments are as one observes his Meekness Patience and Holiness c. 4. The special Graces of Christ as appears from hence are not communicated to all the holy Ointment under the Law was only for consecrated Things and Persons the Elect and holy Priesthood of God only have the Name of Christ like precious Ointment poured out Christ empties himself only to those golden Vessels though common Graces are communicated to all 5. We may from hence infer how unsavory all Wicked Men are in their Persons and Services that have not this good Ointment upon them their Hearts Lives and Prayers and all they do stinks in the Nostrils of the Lord being not perfum'd by Jesus Christ The Sacrifice of the wicked is an Abomination to the Lord. 6. This teacheth us how to keep our Souls sweet Sin the World and the Devil strives to make them lose their savour Therefore pray every day for a drop or two of this Ointment to sweeten your Prayers Meditations and all your holy Dutys and be sure
Christ if he sees that a small Fire and easy Afflictions will not refine and purifie the Soul of a Believer adds greater Afflictions puts them into a very hot Fire great Trials according to his own Wisdom and good pleasure of his Will If need be you are in heaviness through manifold Temptations That the trial of your Faith being much more precious than Gold c. Think it not strange concerning the fiery Trial which is to try you as if some strange thing happened unto you VII Jesus Christ by refining his People separates their Dross from them separates Pride Passion Luke-warmness Worldly-mindedness c. and thereby makes Them and their Graces exceeding valuable Tried Faith tried Patience tried Love is highly esteemed 't is far beyond tried Gold This is the fruit of all the taking away of your Sin I will make a Man more precious than Gold even a Man above the Golden Wedg of Ophir And Christ by refining and putting the whole Church into the Furnace separates the Gold the sincere Christians from drossy Hypocrites VIII Christ to refine and throughly purge and purifie his Church and the Hearts of Believers puts them into one Fire one Affliction and then into another hence God speaks of purifying his People seven times for if you will not for these things obey me I will punish you seven times more according to your Sins God hath many Fires IX Christ adds something of another nature other Metal as I may say into his Gold viz. his Church and People that are in the Furnace there is the additament of his Word and Spirit Did not he add these to his People to refine and purifie them they would be long in the Fire before their Dross would be washed and consumed away nay without the Word and Spirit Afflictions could never accomplish nor perfect the Work and make them fit for his use X. Jesus Christ doth not put his Church or any one believing Soul into the Furnace to destroy or any ways to hurt them but purely out of a gracious Design to make them more pure and serviceable unto him Fathers for a few days chasten us after their pleasure but he for our profit that we might be partakers of his Holiness After he hath tried me I shall come forth as Gold He takes much care that nothing be lost none of them receive detriment thereby XI Christ will not suffer his People to remain in the Furnace or under Afflictions any longer than he sees need of it no longer than till all their dross and filth be purged away 'T is but in measure he knows when it is enough and then he soon abates the Fire XII Christ oft-times in refining of his Church wasteth the Wicked who are his Fuel by which he many times purges them In a secret way they hereby come many times to be bruised and smitten the Fire of God's Wrath seizes upon them as in the case of Pharoah whilst they are persecuting his People XIII Christ Jesus by putting his Children into the Furnace of Affliction resolves to burn up waste and destroy all Hypocrites and drossy Professors in a day of fiery Triall they pass away like Smoke But the Wicked shall perish even like Smoke they shall consume as the Smoke vanisheth so shalt thou drive them away XIV The Lord Jesus knows that sincere Souls or faithful Christians will abide the day of his coming when he sits as a Refiner viz. in a day of Distress and Tribulation and though the Church thereby is made less in bulk or quantity the formal and drossy part being many times more than the other yet in quality the Church thereby will shine forth more gloriously and consequently more acceptable unto God XV. Jesus Christ when he hath thorowly refined and purged his Saints they are made choice and golden Vessels the delight of Christ and for the use and ornament of the Church In a great House there are not only Vessels of Gold and Silver c. 2 Tim. 2.20 The precious Sons of Zion comparable to fine Gold how are they esteemed as Earthen Pitchers c. Lam. 4.2 See Vessels METAPHOR I. A Refiner refines but a little Gold at a time comparatively his Furnace is of small Dimension II. When a Refiner hath put Gold into a Crucible to be melted in order to make it pliable and fit to be wrought adds a quantity or allowable proportion of Allay which is of less value as Silver or Copper Disparity I. CHrist many times in one Furnace of Affliction refines almost all the Gold or godly Ones in a whole Kingdom as he dealt with the whole House of Israel II. Christ when he puts his Saints into his Furnace to make them maleable and fit to be wrought by the Hammer of the Word into the Image of God he puts in a measure of the Holy Spirit which is of more worth and value than the Gold it self viz. the Saints for indeed so hard is the Heart notwithstanding the Fire of that Affliction that there is no work can be made of it without the Spirit Inferences I. THis may inform us concerning the purpose and design of Christ respecting fiery Trials which the Godly meet with in this World that Afflictions are not for the hurt or injury of the Church II. It also shews us what Filth and Corruption is in our Hearts what reason have we to bewail our inward Pollution that nothing will purge and cleanse us but Christ's Blood his Word Spirit and Affliction III. Moreover let us learn from hence to cry to God when we are in the Furnace when in the Fire that Christ would apply his Blood Word and Holy Spirit to our Souls for if otherwise all Sufferings and Afflictions will be unprofitable unto us IV. And O that Christians would take heed in days of Liberty and Prosperity to walk humbly and holily before the Lord and beware lest they contract Filth and Pollution upon their own Souls and so provoke Christ to put them into his Furnace If the shaking of the Rod would bring us upon our Knees and reform our Hearts and Lives Christ would not bring slaying and fiery Dispensations upon us V. It may put us all upon the search to see if we are sincere Gold and not Dross for if we are corrupt Matter the Furnace will make a clear Discrimination of it for indeed Every Mans Work shall be tryed so as by or out of the Fire 1 Cor. 3.13 VI. Let all Professors from hence be wakened Christ the Refiner is near and the day of Trial comes on apace but how wilt thou stand when he appears There is an Amazing Dispensation at hand the Church of God shall be throughly purged and made white the drossy Christian e're long shall be consumed and pass away like the Smoak of a Refiners Furnace VII How good is God to take so great Pains with us that he might make us fit
not in his Love and Affection that they are chastised and so often under this and the other exercise of Affliction and this the Spirit labours either by his Word or Ministers and other ways to convince them of 4. By shewing from the Word that the like Afflictions if not greater many of God's Children have met with before them or are now under knowing that the same Afflictions are accomplished in your Brethren that are in the World what are thy Sorrows saith the Spirit to those that holy Job and many of the Blessed Martyrs met with 5. By shewing them the Design and gracious End of God in all his Dispensations and Afflictions he doth it not simply for his own Pleasure as an Act of Soveraignty But for our Profit that we might be partakers of his Holiness This is the fruit of all the taking away of your Sins 't is for the trial of your Graces saith the Spirit When he hath tried me I shall come forth as Gold 'T is to convince the Devil and wicked Men that you are sincere and upright Ones and do not follow Christ for Loaves Doth Job saith Satan fear God for nought But put forth thine hand now and touch all that he hath and he will curse thee to thy Face God saith the Spirit hath brought this and the other Trouble upon thee to clear thy Innocency and to shew that Satan is a Liar 6. By shewing them that all their Afflictions are but short lived that they will soon be over they will last but for a Moment 7. That they will add to their Advantage here and hereafter Our light Affliction which is but for a Moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory 'T is saith the Spirit to shew forth the excellent nature of true Grace Faith Love and Patience never shine forth in their proper Lustre and Glory until they come under exercise The trial of your Faith is much more precious than Gold that perisheth tho it be tried with Fire And it will hereby be found unto Praise Honour and Glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. 8. 〈◊〉 â—â—irit comforteth Believers by shewing them that all their Sorrows will in a little 〈◊〉 be turned into Gladness Now ye are sorrowful but I will see you again and your Hearâ—â— shall rejoyee and your Joy no Man taketh away from you Ye shall be sorrowful but you 〈…〉 shall be turned into Joy Those that go forth weeping bearing precious Seed shall doubtless come again rejoycing bringing their Sheaves with them God will give unto them saith the Spirit that mourn in Zion Beauty for Ashes the Oil of Joy for Mourning the Garments of Praise for the Spirit of Heavinesâ—â— that they may be called Trees of Righteousness the planting of the Lord that he maâ—◠〈◊〉 glorified 9. The Spirit comforteth by shewing Believers that all their Sorrows 〈…〉 in this World the wicked have all their sweet things here and the godly have their bitter things here but as the wicked shall have nothing but bitter hereafter so the godly shall have nothing but sweet hereafter Son remember that thou in thy life time receivedst thy good things and likewise Lazarus evil things but now he is comforted and thou art tormented 10. The Spirit comforteth by convincing Believers that God doth not punish them as their Sins do deserve He hath visited thee little or nothing saith Elibu so the Word will bear it The least Mercy is more than we deserve He hath not dealt with us after our Sins nor rewarded us according â—â—o our Iniquitieâ—â— VIII The holy Spirit sympathizes with every gracious Soul in their Distresses and Troubles according as God in his Word speakes to our Capacities In all their Afflictions he was afflicted his Soul was grieved for Israel And in that of the eighth Chapter to the Romans the Spirit particularly is said to sigh and groan after such a sort that cannot be uttered and hence the Apostle exhorts the Saints not to grieve the holy Spirit of God whereby they are sealed to the day of Redemption IX Likewise the holy Spirit also helps our Infirmities for we know not what to pray for as we ought But the Spirit it self maketh Intercession for us with Groans which cannot be uttered And he that searcheth the Hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit because he maketh Intercession for the Saints according to the Will of God Rom. 8.26 27. Hence the word Advocate or Comforter X. The holy Spirit searches the Heart and Reins of every Soul he comes to comfort to discover the State and Condition of a Person to him David crys out Search me O God and know my Heart c. I the Lord search the Heart c. He that searches the Heart c. The Spirit searches all things c. XI So the holy Spirit is sometimes slighted and grieved through the Power of Temptation by a Believer and his sweet and heavenly Advice is not minded nor followed as it ought to be but all Comfort is rejected for a time but afterwards tho sometimes long first the Soul with Joy takes hold of it XII The Holy Spirit keeps the Heart of a Believer from utter Despondency and greatly revives and consolates him hence the Apostle saith God hath given us everlasting Consolation and good hope through Grace we are troubled on every side but not in Distress we are perplexed but not in despair I have seen his ways and will heal him also and restore Comforts to him c. XIII The holy Spirit knows there is an absolute necessity for him not only to give the Saints a Visit and immediately be gone but also to abide with them always for they cannot be without his glorious Presence one Moment It 's true sometimes they may be without his eminent comforting Presence which causes the Church to cry the Comforter that should relieve my Soul is far from me yet his supporting Presence is ever with them I will pray the Father and he shall send you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever even the Spirit of Truth c. and he is said to dwell in us and to make his Abode with us But if the Spirit of him that raised Jesus from the Dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the Dead shall also quicken your mortal Bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you XIV The Holy Spirit is exceedingly prized and much beloved by every godly Man but more especially when they find by Experience the great Worth of him and the great Good and Profit they receive by his means XV. The Holy Spirit deals faithfully with every Man he will not speak Peace to any Person but to those to whom it doth belong nor at a time when the Soul is fallen into any Sin or under some great Temptation to sin but will at such times rather rebuke and
me II. The Spirit hath all excellent Qualities in it 't will not only beautify and perfume but 't is also soveraign good for healing all Distempers of the Soul what rare Property is there in any sort of Oil but the Spirit in an heavenly manner far excels it III. The Spirit ever abides the same never corrupts nor loseth its Virtue it lasteth from everlasting to everlasting Inferences FRom hence we may see the excellent Nature Properties and Usefulness of the Spirit 2. It may move and stir us up to pray to the Father for fresh Anointings 3. Let us ascribe all tenderness and brokeness of Heart to the mollifying Virtue of this Precious Oil. 4. When ye see choice and excellent Oil think seriously on the Holy Spirit 5. Labour to get much of it in your Vessels lest your Lamps go out and you go to buy when 't is too late The Holy-Spirit the Earnest of the Saints Inheritance Eph. 1.13 14. After ye believed ye were sealed with the Spirit of Promise which is the Earnest of our Inheritance c. METAPHOR AN Earnest is usually part of the best things which are in common Use and Estimation among Men as Gold Silver c. II. An Earnest imports some thing bought or sold as also an Agreement or Consent between two Parties for the confirming of some Contract or Promise which before was not settled III. An Earnest is given as a Pledg of some future good thing purchased or promised to a Person IV. An Earnest oftimes of a great Bargain or Purchase is a considerable Sum twenty or thirty Pounds sometimes more hath been given in earnest of an Inheritance an Earnest is commonly proportioned according to the worth or value of the Purchase V. An Earnest is that which confirms or makes sure a Bargain or Contract between two Parties by the means of which each claims his own Interest and Property VI. An Earnest puts a Bar to any who would unjustly stop disanul or make void the Covenant agreed upon VII An Earnest confirms a Bargain so that it gives assurance to him that receives it of the Inheritance or Purchase of whatsoever it is the Earnest VIII An Earnest though it may be in it self something of considerable value yet it is always far short in worth to that which it is the Earnest of IX An Earnest as it is something given of a valuable consideration to confirm a Bargain so the Person that receives it immediately enjoys it he hath it in hand for his present Profit and Advantage and many times a Man hath nothing else to live upon till he receives the whole Sum but the Earnest-Mony X. There is always some distance of Time between the laying down of the Earnest of an Inheritance and full enjoyment of it or entering into the Possession thereof Parallel THe Holy Spirit viz. the Gifts Graces and Operations thereof is part of the best things which the great God in this World gives unto his dear Children II. The Earnest of the Spirit doth also denote as 't is observed by some that spiritual Bargain which is made between God and a Believer The Lord in a solemn Contract requires of us our whole Soul Life Strength the best we are and are capable to perform for the Glory of his holy Name and to the end he might have as I may say the Bargain punctually observed hath given us an Earnest to wit his Spirit and we in receiving of it shew our Assent and Consent to the Contract to serve the Lord and become his for ever III. The Spirit is given by the Father to Believers as a Pledg or Earnest of the blessed Inheritance which Christ purchased by his Blood for them and upon the account of his own free Grace is promised to them Who hath also sealed us and given us the Earnest of the Spirit in our Hearts 2 Cor. 1.22 IV. The Spirit which God giveth to Believers as the Earnest of Eternal Life is a great Sum or that which is of considerable Value the Purchase being infinite or invaluable 't is meet the Earnest should bear some Proportion to it who is able to account or reckon up the worth of the Spirit of God which is the Earnest of the Saints Inheritance We may judg of the Value and Excellency of it by the fruits thereof which are Love Joy Peace Long-suffering Gentleness Faith Meekness Temperance c. One particular Fruit of the Spirit viz. Peace is such an inestimable Jewel that the Apostle saith It passeth all Vnderstanding V. The Earnest of the Spirit which God hath given to his People confirms that mutual Contract and Agreement which is between him and them God hereby claims a new Covenant-Right to Believers and Believers claim Interest and Property in God Hereby we know that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit 1 Joh. 4.13 VI. The Earnest of the Spirit prevents Satan from steping in to break and make void the Spiritual Bargain or Contract between the Soul and the Lord Jesus Christ. A Saint can by this means say I have received Earnest of God I am not mine own I have agreed covenanted and sold my self to him Depart from me ye evil doers for I will keep the Commandments of my God The Lord rebuke thee Satan c. And hereby God looks upon himself concern'd to secure and make sure of the Soul to preserve his Right and Interest he hath in his People against all Enemies that he might not lose his Bargain VII The Spirit confirms the Covenant of Grace so to Believers that it gives them an assurance of Eternal Life and Glory to come hence 't is called The Earnest of the Saints Inheritance until the Redemption of the Purchased Possession VIII The Gifts Influences and Graces of the holy Spirit tho they are in themselves of great Worth and Value and accordingly greatly prized by the Godly yet not to be compared to the full Fruition of God and the glorious Inheritance which the Spirit is given as the Earnest of IX The Spirit which is the Earnest of Glory is given to Believers for their present Profit God's infinite Favour bestows Grace Peace Joy and the like whilst Saints are in this World and indeed 't is upon this Earnest-Mony they live and 't is so much as is sufficient to bear all their Charges and defâ—â—ay all their Expences till they receive the everlasting Kingdom X. There is also a distance of Time between the Saints receiving the Spirit which is the Earnest of that glorious Inheritance and the full Possession of it They receive the Spirit as the Earnest when or soon after they believe the Time when they receive the Inheritance is not till they die and not the full Fruition or perfect Enjoyment of it till the Resurrection Henceforth is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness which God the righteous Judg will give me at that Day c.
Benefit by the flesh or Death of Christ unless he be quickened by the Spirit 4. The gospel in the grace of it when received in Truth works out that cursed enmity that is in the heart against God and thereby reconciles the sinner to the blessed Majesty of Heaven 5. The grace of the gospel works Regeneration makes the sinner another Man a new Man It forms the new Creature in the Soul 1. It infuses new qualities 2. It makes the Proud Person humble and not to vaunt himself 3. It makes the Unclean Person Chast and to loath Lascivious thoughts 4. It makes hard-hearted sinners full of Bowels 5. It makes the impatient Soul to bear all things 6. It makes the Covetous Person Liberal and to distribute to the poor 7. It makes the worst Husband the best Husband the worst Wife the best Wife the worst Children the best Children the Rebellious ones to be Obedient ones 6. The gospel in the grace of it brings the Soul into Union with God No Grace no Christ. God is the Fountain of this Union Christ is the Conduit-pipe as Mediator the Spirit and the grace thereof is the stream Union is let into the Soul at this door no grace no God no union with him and no Union with him no Communion with him 7. The grace of the gospel washeth the polluted Soul it cleanseth the filth of the heart and Pollution of the Life He put no difference between them and us purifying their hearts by faith 8. The grace of the gospel or saving operations of the Spirit heals the wounded Soul he poured in Oyl and Wine c. 9. Gospel grace gives the Soul a right to all the Blessings of a Crucified Christ 't is that which puts on the Wedding garment It was a pretty saying of a good Man 1. The Father weaves this Garment he was first concerned about it he prepared the matter with which 't is made 2. The Son made it he has wrought Righteousness for us 3. The Spirit puts it on 10. The grace of the gospel makes a glorious Soul a glorious Man a glorious Woman a glorious Family a glorious Church a glorious City a glorious Kingdom where 't is generally received in Truth It makes a glorious Soul It finds it naked and clothes it It finds it starved as it were and feeds it It finds it wounded and heals it It finds it cold and warms it It finds it unclean and sanctifies it It finds it poor and inriches it It finds it in bonds and sets it at liberty It finds it an Enemy to God and reconciles it It finds it Condemned and justifies it It finds it Dead and gives it Life 11. The grace of the gospel adornes the Soul it puts Ornaments upon the head and Chains beyond those of Gold upon the Neck It decks it with Jewels I decked thee with ornaments I put Bracelets upon thy hands and a chain on thy neck I put a Jewel on thy forehead earings in thine ears and a Beautiful Crown on thy head thou wast dect with Gold and silver with silk and broidered work It puts a Ring on the Finger it adorns the Soul with a meek and a quiet Spirit which is in the sight of God of great price 12. The grace of the gospel makes a man to behold a beauty and glory in the gospel to love it and to suffer for it The gospel is worth little in the sight and esteem of that man that has not the grace of the gospel What is the word of grace without the grace of the word 13. Gospel grace is an excellent preservative against the Plague of Sin No Pestilence so bad as this How shall I saith Joseph do this thing and sin against God It is also a Potion to work it out as well as to preserve from it 14. Gospel grace is good really good alwayes good and glorious at all times 't is good in health the Soul cannot have health without it good in Sickness 't is good in Prosperity 't is good in Adversity 't is good in good times and wo to them that want it in bad times we are blessed that have it but they are cursed that are without it whatsoever Profession they make For the Profession of the gospel without the grace of the gospel will do a man no good 't is but the name without the nature the Cabinet without the Jewel the Lamp without the Oyl 15. The grace of the gospel makes men like to Christ to love Christ and to die for Christ. 16. Gospel grace makes men to live to God they live to themselves that have it not they live to God that have it It makes men wise to be men of Understanding to live sober to themselves to live righteously to men and to live holy towards God to live in Subjection to God to obey God to delight in God and to live in Obedience and Subjection to his Church 6. The gospel is glorious in respect of the tenders and offers made therein to the Sons of Men. VVhat is tendered Repentance is tendered Pardon is tendered Peace is tendered Bread and VVater of Life is tendered perfect Righteousness is tendered Adoption is tendered Glorious Liberty is tendred in short God is offered he makes a tender of himself Christ is tendred with all his Benefits who is the Pearl of great price worth Millions yea more than ten thousand worlds a Marriage with Christ is tendered the Spirit is tendered with all the blessings of it a Kingdom is offered in the gospel a Crown is offered a Crown of endless glory a Crown that fadeth not away Eternal Life is tendered VVho is it that makes these tenders and offers in the gospel The great God he that has them to bestow and a right to give them VVho are they offered to To such that are his Enemies Rebels even the worst of Sinners in a word who ever will he that hath a will to receive them may have them Upon what Terms are they offered Freely offered without Money and without price tho' a man as to Righteousness hath nothing of worth nor Beauty in him being in himself but a Lump of Sin and Filthiness yet he may have these things they are offered unto such They are sincerely and faithfully offered God doth not mock men and women offer them such things as these and yet never intend to bestow them upon them if they have a heart a Mind to them my Life for theirs they may enjoy all these and many more like glorious good things Nay and more then this they have been often tendered with much Affection and in Bowels of Compassion God bewails and Christ bewails the state of such who do refuse them O then what Fools are mortals to slight and reject these tenders 7. The gospel is glorious in Respect of the glorious things that are brought about and accomplished thereby The first I
and the manner of expression there no other Writing can Parallel it Because that which is Holy is withal Venerable and Grave and such things need no paint or artificial illustrations and because the multitude of Readers is promiscuous it was needful that it should be understood by all because every man is concern'd to believe and observe it And hence the Scriptures were written in the common Language viz. The Old Testament in Hebrew the mother Tongue of the Jews and the New Testament in Greek there most Vniversal Language of that time whence we may infer the Impiety of such as prohibit Translations of it Beza that great Philologist says that Pauls Writings when he treats of the Mysteries of the Divinity far exceeds the Grandiloquence of Plato the flourishes of Demosthenes and the exact method of Aristotle and Galen That threefold character of declaiming which Rhetoricians make such a bustle about viz. of a high and lofty stile that which consists in a mean and that of a low and humble is to be found in the Scripture so as that it may even ravish the attention of the hearer into admiration And that which Criticks admire in Homer Thucydides and Pindarus singly are universally found here which must not be understood of that elegance that tickles the fancy and relishes with the fleshy Ear but the inward and most noble part viz. an illuminated Soul To this purpose the Learned Rivet Franciscus Picus and Bibliander express themselves with much Reason and Eloquence preferring the Bible as to its stile before the most studious ornaments and splendor of oratory found amongst the prophane Rhetoricians The last of which brings this Example out of Esa. 25.6 to prove the native grace and beauty of the Hebrew the elegancy of which no man can be ignorant of that understands the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Veasa Jehovah 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 zebaoth lecol hammiim behar hazaeh misthe schemaniim misthe schemariim schemaniim memychaiim schemariim mesykkakiim In English And in this Mountain shall the Lord of Hosts make unto all People a Feast of Fat things a Feast of Wine on the Lees of Fat things full of Marrow of Wines on the Lees well refined c. The Words of Picus Earl of Mirandula are notable in his Epistle to Hermolaus Barbarus The Sacred Scriptures saith he do not move nor perswade but compel stir up and force Thou readest words that seem rustick and unpolisht viz. in the opinion of the wise men of this World but they are lively quick inflaming sharp and penetrating even the very spirit transforming the whole by an admirable power And his excellent Nephew another Mirandula lib. 2. Exam. vanit Doctrin Gent. says that although Scripture stile seems to us more Rude than Eloquent yet it has an extraordinary power to command the Reverence and Affections of the peruser Of these two Mirandula's the Vnkle and the Nephew who were the Ornaments not only of Italy but of the Age they lived in the aforesaid Bibliander says that after they had perused all approved Authors and had almost surfeited with humane literature they betook themselves to the Study of and acquiesed in the Scriptures with which they were so ravisht that they could not be satisfied Jerome says of the Book of Esaias that the floridness of his stile can be represented by no Translation That expression of the Learned and otherwise praise worthy Erasmus is to be wondred at who says qui fit ut Apostolorum sermo non solum impolitus sit inconditus verum etiam imperfectus c. How comes it to pass that the speech of the Apostles is not only unpolished and confus'd but also imperfect and solaecising adding a little after the Authority of the Apostles is not to be Judged by their mode of speech but their meaning Neither may a Godly man be offended more with their undrest stile than with their plain and homely cloathing concluding that the Apostles learnt not the Greek Tongue from the Orations of Demosthenes but popular speech whereas all true Christians know that they learnt it of the great God who is all wise and Eloquent in whom no excellent quality is wanting who infinitely surpasses Demosthenes and who directed their minds their Language and Stile to express the sacred Mysteries of true Wisdom as is very evident from Matth. 10.20 Luke 21.15 2 Pet. 1.21 Hence Lactantius says that such as were accustomed to sweet and artificial Orations or Verses despised the plain and common mode of Scripture speaking as rude because they delight in that which tickles the sence and fancy which while it captivates the mind misguides and insnares But cannot God who form'd the mind tongue and voice speak Elegantly Yes certainly for by his gracious Providence he has ordered those Divine things to be published without the disguise of any artificial bedawbing which conceals the true meaning of the speaker that all may understand what he delivers By which words as he confesses the Scripture to be no way imbellished with humane Art so he asserts that the phrase is pure and divinely Eloquent and adapted to express its sacred Contents The difference of the sacred stile with respect to the Hebraisms in the New Testament from those prophane Rhetoricians whose main end was to beguile attention and inveagle mens minds by the artifice of words should be an argument to confirm the minds of such men as believe the Apostle in the Faith because of the antiquity certainty and perfection of that sacred Tongue first taught by the soveraign Creator rather than urg'd as a Reason to Judge it impure imperfect or abounding with solaecisms Graceless Eloquence attired in the most Illustrious dress of Tropes and Schemes adorn'd with the borrowed phrases of Tully or Demosthenes and whatever the common places of Phrase-students can afford is certainly an engine of mischief breathing out threatning and slaughter against the Disciples of the Lord as Paul the Scholar of Gamaliel did before his Conversion Acts 9.1 c. For those accomplishments if unsanctified are like a Sharp sword in a mad hand fit only for the baffling as far as it can of plain and Naked Truth 'T is true that there are many Hebraisms in the New Testament that is a mixture of the Idiom of that sacred Language with the Greek which the Heathen Grecians being ignorant of the phrase accounted barbarous But Christians who know that much of the Old Testament is quoted in the New should rather esteem it an Ornament because the propriety of the first Language than which no speech is more significant and emphatical is diffused into the other and because as Heinsius a man as Glas. says Learned to a Miracle in Prolegom Aristarch sacri well expresses himself if any man will be so impudently bold as to say that the Scriptures are any way defective he declares himself thereby not Learned but a Blasphemer and brutally mad as well as ignorant of
13 44 10 7 161 11 15 10 James 1 17 82 1 Peter 1 9 24  20 70 1 John 3 1 7  20 81 Revelations 1 4 8 70  10 2 3 5 5 77 11 4 139 21 22 88 22 16 86 ERRATA SVch Escapes of the Press as injure not the sence as Mis-Pointings and litteral Errors are left to the Readers Candor to Correct or Pardon some few of such as misrepresent it he is desired to mend thus In the Epistle page 2. line 11. for found read framed l. 19. r. Carneades p. 3. l. 32. r. whole man p. 5. l. 1. for any asserting r. an assertion p. 6. l. 10. for Received r. Believed First Book p. 35. l. 48. r. Michal p. 54. l. 48 49. for grief Orphans r. grief breaks out p. 92. l. 5. dele for things l. 8. r. yours l. 20. r. Tract 2. l. 47. r. rather then p. 94. l. 46. for seems r. serves l. 49. for alive r. a line p. 99. l. 36. for look r. took p. 100. l. 9. dele in p. 135. l. 15. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 182 l. 30. dele says Book 2. p. 107. l. 9. for E. D. r. T. D. The rest are obvious to common capacity Poems on the Bridegroom p. 107. On the Rose of Sharon 202. On the Vine p. 226. of the Second Book by T. D. On the Light p. 16. by B. K. On the Plough p. 66. Of the Third Book by Mr. Flavel Philologia Sacra OR The TROPES and FIGURES in SCRIPTURE Reduced under their proper Heads and Classes with a Brief Explication of each c. SCripture Rhetorick or Sacred Elocution may be reduced to two principal Heads or Chapters 1. The first of Tropes 2. The Second of Figures First Tropes Which concern the Sense of Words viz. When they are drawn from their proper and genuine signification to that which is different or Contrary which the Etymology of the word shews for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is derived from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying verto muto to turn or change Second Figures Which the Greeks calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying the Habit or Ornament of Speech do not alter or vary the Sense of Words but imbellish beautifie or adorn them Of the first we will Treat under two heads 1. The Kinds Of Tropes 2. The Affections Of Tropes The Kinds of Tropes are four viz. Metonymie Ironie Metaphor and Synechdoche which order depends upon Logical Topicks from whence Tropes are deduced As 1. Metonymie from Causes and Effects 1. From Subjects and Adjuncts 2. Ironie from Contraries 3. Metaphor from Comparates 4. Synechdoche from the distribution of the whole into its Parts 2. Of the Genus into its Species Genus is a more general Title which comprehends some things more special under it as substance which comprehends 1. Living Creatures 2. Mettals 3. Elements c. Species is a more special Title attributed to diverse particulars under it as a Man to John Peter James or any other individual The Affections of Tropes are Three 1. Catachresis 2. Hyperbole 3. Allegory Of which there are certain Species As 1. Paraemia or a Proverb and 2. Aenigma Of These with Gods help we shall Treat in Order CHAP. I. Of a Metonymie of the Cause A Metonymie is a Trope when a Cause is put for the Effect or the Effect for the Cause the Subject for the Adjunct or the Adjunct for the Subject There are four kinds of Metonymies Answering to the four kinds of Causes Viz. 1. Efficient 2. Material 3. Formal 4. Final A Metonymie of the Cause is used in Scripture when 1. The Person acting is put for the thing done 2. When the Instrument by which a thing is done is put for the thing effected 3. When a Thing or Action is put for the effect produced by that Action of which in Order 1. The Person Acting for the thing Acted or Effected 1. THE HOLY SPIRIT is put for its Effects and Operations as 2 Cor. 3 6. Who hath made us able Ministers of the New Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit for the Letter killeth but the Spirit giveth Life Where by the term Letter we are to understand the Law written in Tables of Stone which required perfect obedience and which no man can perform because of Corruption therefore that Law can pronounce nothing but a sentence of Death But by Spirit is meant the saving Doctrine of the Gospel which derives its original from the Spirit considered as a most merciful comforter who sets it home upon the Soul fitting and preparing it thereby for Eternal Life sutable to John 6.63 The Words that I speak are Spirit and Life that is they are from the Spirit of God and being received by Faith confer Salvation through the grace of God Rom. 8.2 By the Law of the Spirit of Life as Illyricus says is meant the Doctrine of the Gospel because it is a peculiar instrument or means of its operation which by a Divine efficacy changes the heart and writes his Law there which now is not only inscribed in Tables or Parchments but penetrates the inward parts quickning the soul to spiritual Motions and Actions See Gal. 3.2.5 Isa. 11.4 2 Thes. 2.8 Isa. 42.1 and 61.1 2. John 3.34 c. 2. THE HOLY SPIRIT is put for Regeneration Psal. 51.10 Renew a right Spirit within me Ezek. 36.26 A new Spirit will I put within you hence the Apostle says be ye renewed in the Spirit c. Eph. 4.23 Which is expounded Rom. 12.2 Be not conformed to this World but be ye transformed by the Renewing of your mind c. Hence arises an opposition of Flesh and Spirit John 3.6 That which is born of the Flesh is Flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit where by Flesh is meant man defiled by sin and by Spirit the grace of Renovation or which is the same thing the Regenerate man The Apostle 1 Thes. 5.19 Exhorts not to quench the Spirit that is the Gifts of the Spirit as Illumination and Renovation suitable to 2 Tim 1.6 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 suscitare instar ignis Donum Dei stir up as Fire or Coals are stirred up for so the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies the gift of God which is in thee for true Faith and Godliness may be resembled to a little Flame kindled by the Spirit in the hearts of Believers which the Devil and Carnal Corruptions endeavour to smother but is to be cherished and stirred up as fire is by more fewel this feeding and quickning fewel is the Word of God In this sence the Soul is distinguished from the Spirit in man For Spirit denotes a Divine Power and Energy in a Regenerate and Sanctifyed soul by which it is carryed to and united to God as Luke 1.46 47. My Soul doth magnifie the Lord and my Spirit rejoyced in God my Saviour expounded 1 Thes. 5.23 The very God of Peace sanctifie
18.14 and 29.11 Eccl. 7.9 Isa. 29.10 and 37.7 Jer. 51.11 Ezek. 13.3 Dan. 5.20 Hag. 1.14 Hab. 1.11 Rom. 11.8 1 Cor. 2.12 c. God hath given the Spirit of slumber Eyes that they should not see and Ears that they should not hear Now you have received not the Spirit of the world but the Spirit which is of God c. 2. The Organical Cause or Instrument is put for the thing Effected by it THE Mouth is put for Speech or Testimony as Deut. 17.6 At the Mouth of two or three Witnesses shall he that is worthy of Death be put to Death but at the Mouth of one VVitness he shall not be put to death that is by the Witness or Testimony of two or three c. so Deut. 19.15 One witness shall not arise against a man for any Iniquity or for any sin in any sin that he sinneth At the Mouth of two Witnesses or at the Mouth of three Witnesses shall the matter be established which is expounded Matth. 18.16 and John 8.17 2. The MOUTH is put for a Command or Prescription Gen. 45.21 And Joseph gave them Waggons according to the Mouth of Pharaoh c. That is as we translate it according to the Commandment of Pharaoh Exod. 17.1 And the Children of Israel Journied according to the Mouth that is the Commandment of the Lord. So Numb 3.16 39. and 20.24 and 17.14 Deut. 1.26.43 and 34.5 So Moses the Servant of the Lord died there in the Land of Moab according to the Mouth of the Lord that is according to the Word of the Lord. Upon which Sanctius says in his Comment on Isa. 49. Therefore they do not rightly judge who from the Hebrew reading say that Moses dyed in the kiss of the Lord for that Tradition is not from the Hebrew Text but from the Targum which is attributed to Jonath Vziel who renders 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at the Mouth of the Lord Ad Osculum verbi Domini that is according to the kiss of the Mouth of the Lord. But what 's spoken of the Mouth of the Lord is better to be referred to the Trope Anthropopathia of which we shall hear hereafter The Tongue is put for Speech Prov. 25.15 A soft Tongue breaketh the bones that is a mild civil and courteous speech so Jer. 18.18 Let us smite him for that Tongue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is for his importunate unseasonable and odious Speech But more especially for the Idiom or particular Language of Nations Act. 2.4 11. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other Tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance Cretians and Arabians do we hear them speak in our Tongues the great things or wonderful works of God It is also put for the Gift of strange Languages In my name shall they cast out Devils they shall speak with new Tongues Mark 16.17 and 1 Cor. 14.19 Yet in the Church I had rather speak five words with my understanding that by my voice I might teach others also then Ten Thousand words in an unknown Tongue That is in a Language which the People understand not c. The Lip is put for Speech Gen. 11.1 And the whole Earth was of one Lip and of one word that is of one Language and of one Speech or Idiom of speaking the Chaldee sayes of one Tongue and one Speech That the Hebrew Language is meant here which in Isa. 19.18 is called the Lip of Canaan we translate it Language by the same Trope And which by the Targ. Hierosolym and R. Saloom upon the place is called the Holy Tongue is shewed elsewhere Neither was Hebrew the peculiar name of that Language in those times because there was no need of a term of distinction there being no other Speech in the World till after the Confusion of Tongues and scattering of the People at Babel Pro. 17.7 A Lip of excellency does not become a fool much less a Lip of lying A Prince that is a worthy and excellent Speech do's not become or is not to be expected from a Fool much less should a Noble or brave mind tell Lies Esa. 33.19 A People of a deeper Lip so the Hebrew then thou canst perceive that is such as speak so obscurely that you cannot understand them as Pagninus renders it See Pro. 12.19 the Lip of Truth shall be established for ever but a lying Tongue is but for a moment Job 12.20 He removeth away the Lip of the faithful c. so 't is in the Hebrew The Palate is put for Speech Pro. 5.3 For the Lips of a strange Woman drop as an honey Comb and her Palate so the Hebrew is smoother then Oyl that is her Words or Speech The Throat is put also for loud Speaking Isa. 58.1 Cry with the Throat so the Hebrew spare not c. by which the Organ of Crying or Speaking is to be understood for the Explication follows viz. lift up thy voice like a Trumpet and what the Scope or Argument of that loud Speech or Shrill Cry was to be is added in these words And shew my People their Transgression and the house of Jacob their sins The Hand is put for Actions done by it where there is also a Synechdoche For by the Actions of the Hands some other things as also Principles or beginnings of Actions are understood as Counsel Machination or contrivance thought endeavours care c. as 1 Sam. 22.17 Slay the Priests of the Lord for their Hand is also with David that is they help him with their Counsel So 2 Sam. 3.12 and 14.19 1 Kings 10.29 Psal. 7.4 Isa. 1.15 The Hand is put for Writing 1 Cor. 16.21 The Salutation of me Paul with mine own hand that is mine own Writing and Col. 4.18 The Salutation by the Hand that is the Writing of me Paul This is ordinary viz. for a mans Writing to be called his hand among the Greeks as Pollux and Suidas sayes and among the Latines see Cicero lib. 7. Epist. ad Attic. as also in our common Language The Hand is put for a Gift reached by the Hand Psal. 68.32 Ethiopia shall make her Hands run to God so the Hebrew that is Ethiopia shall speedily transmit her Gifts as Psal. 72.10 Isa. 60.6 to which Relates that of Pliny the Ancient Greeks called Doron the palm or fist and therefore they called the Hand Gifts that word so signifying because they were given thereby See Psal. 22. 35 36. And more under the Head or Title Metaphors A Sword is put for War or Slaughter which are in a great Measure performed thereby Exod. 5.3 Let us go we pray thee three days Journey into the Desert and sacrifice unto the Lord our God lest he fall upon us with Pestilence or with the Sword Levit. 26.6 Neither shall the Sword go through your Land so Isa. 1.20 Jer. 14.12 13 15 16. and 43.11 Psal. 144.10 Rom. 8.35 and several other places It is said Matth.
5. Psal. 78.19 A Mountain for Mountainous places Josh. 13.6 Judges 7.24 c. Mountains and Hills are put for Idols which were Worshipt there Jer. 3.23 Mountains and Vallies for their Inhabitants Micah 1.4 The Mountains shall be Molten under him and the Vallies shall be Cleft that is the Hearts of those that inhabit them shall wax soft See Psal. 68.2 3. and Psal. 97.4 5. They put to flight the Vallies toward the East and toward the West that is such as dwelt in the Vallies 1 Chron. 12.15 The World is put for Mankind John 3.16 and 12.19 2 Cor. 5.19 1 John 2.2 and 5.19 'T is put for the wicked who are the greatest part of mankind John 1.10 and 7.7 and 14.17 and 15.19 and 16.20 23 and 17.9 14. 1 Cor. 11.32 1 John 3.1 and 4.5 and 5.4 5. Hence the Devil is called the Prince of this world John 12.31 and 14.30 and 16.11 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Princes of the world Eph. 6.12 The God of this world 2. Cor. 4.4 Which is expounded Eph. 2.2 In time past ye walked according to this world according to the Prince of the Power of the Air the Spirit that Now worketh in the Children of Disobedience The World is put sometimes for those are converted and beleive as Illyricus says alledging John 6.33 The Bread of God is he which cometh down from Heaven and giveth Life unto the world that is to beleivers and John 14.31 But that the world may know that I love the Father c. Yet Glassius thinks that the whole race of mankind is rather to be understood in both places as verse 51. the Bread which I will give is my Flesh which I will give for the life of the World for this giving of Life is not an actual conferring of it by Faith but rather an acquisition or purchase of life for them in which sence Christ is called the light that enlightens every man that cometh into the world In the other text John 14.31 Christ signifies by those words that he was therefore to die that he might deliver mankind from the power of Satan 2. That this Redemption of mankind should by the Word of the Gospel be revealed to the whole World For he says not let me die that I may shew that I love the Father but that the World may know that I love the Father Which knowledge was had when the Gospel was promulgated through the whole World by the Apostles Camerarius in his Notes on John 17.21 That the World may beleive that thou hast sent me says that by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the world we are to understand 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Such as shall be saved But Glassius says that it signifies all men universally as John 3.17 For God sent his Son that the world through him might be saved For though all men are not actually saved in regard of their proper contumacy and impenitency yet a spiritual Unity for believers is prayed for and that the World might believe that is that all men should be converted to the true knowledge of the Messiah although very many remain in Unbelief and Wickedness who shall have no share in this Redemption Ships are put for the Men in them Esa. 23.1 Howl ye Ships of Tarshish that is ye Mariners and Merchants c. So verses 10.14 A Nest is put for the Young ones Deut. 32.11 As an Eagle stirreth up her Nest that is the Young Eagles as is clearly shew'd in the following words Ophir A Country in India abounding with Gold is put for Gold brought from thence Job 22.24 Then shalt thou lay up Gold as Dust and Ophir as the Stones of the Brooks that is Gold brought from Ophir Abundance of Gold is denoted by the whole phrase and Metaphorically great felicity A Cup is put for the Wine or Liquor in it Jer. 49.12 Ezek. 23.32 1 Cor. 10.21 Yee cannot drink the Cup of the Lord and the Cup of Devils Luke 22.17 It is said in the last Paschal Supper And he took the Cup and gave thanks and said take this and divide it amongst your selves that is the Wine not the Cup for verse 18 he says I will not drink of the fruit of the Vine untill the Kingdom of God shall Come So Luke 22.20 We have the same Metonymie about the Eucharistical Cup of the Lords Supper and 1 Cor. 11.25 26 27. Of this Cup Christ says that 't is the New Testament in his Blood but the containing vessel cannot be understood but the thing contained viz. The Wine which is Sacramentally the Blood of Christ Matth. 26.28 Mark 14.24 See more 1 Cor. 10.16 21. 1 Cor. 11.26 27. Matth. 26 27. Mark 14.23 1 Cor. 11.28 The Names of Countries is frequently put for their Inhabitants as Egypt for Egyptians Gen. 17.15 Ps. 105.38 Ethiopia for Ethiopians Ps. 68.31 32 Sheba for Sabeans Job 1.15 and 6.19 See Esa. 43.3 4. Judea and the adjacent Countries about Jordan are put for their Inhabitants Matt. 3.5 Macedonia and Achaia for Christians living there Rom. 11.26 The Land of Egypt is put for spoils brought from thence Jer. 43.12 The Grave is put for the Dead that are buried in it as Esa. 38.18 The Grave cannot praise thee Death cannot celebrate thee that is they that are Dead and Buried the reason follows They that go down into the Pit cannot hope for thy Truth ver 19. The Living the Living he shall praise thee See Psal. 6.6 Psal. 115.117 The Earth is put for the Inhabitants of the Earth Gen. 6.11 The Earth was also corrupt before God and the Earth was filled with violence which is expounded in the next verse for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the Earth So Gen. 11.1 and 18.25 and 19.31 and 14.30 1 Sam. 14.29 2 Sam. 15.23 Prov. 28.2 Esa. 24.20 Matth. 5.13 The Ends of the Earth are put for the Inhabitants of the extreamest parts thereof Psal. 22.27 28. Psal. 67.8 A Theatre the place where Plays and Shews are seen is put for the sight it self 1 Cor. 4.9 Where the Apostle Paul Metaphorically says of himself For we are made a Theatre so the Greek unto the World and to Angels and to Men As if he had said we are derided hated and abused by the World and that not in a corner but as if the whole Earth were gathered together in one Theatre to satiate and please themselves with beholding our miseries A City is put for Citizens Jer. 4.29 The whole City shall flee Shall go into Thickets and clime upon the Rocks So Esa. 14.31 Jer. 26.2 c. Jerusalem Chorazin Bethsaida Capernaum are put for their Inhabitants Matth. 3.5 Mark 1.5 Matth. 23.37 and 11.21 23. Act. 18.25 Jud. 5.7.11 c. To this by Analogy may be referred these that follow Heaven is put for God who is said to dwell in the Heavens and there manifests his Glory and Majesty to Angels and glorified Spirits Psal. 73.9 They set their Mouth against the Heavens and their Tongue walketh
neither shall thy Moon withdraw it self Esa. 60.20 the explication follows For the Lord shall be thine Everlasting Lights and the days of thy Mourning shall be ended See Rev. 22.5 Such things as concern the state of the Church in this Life and Heaven are mixt in this chapter of Esaiah as an accurate inspection into it will shew The Chald. in Translating these words of the Sun and Moon does not unelegantly expound them thy Kingdom shall no longer be abolished nor thy Glory transferred The Light of the Sun denotes prosperity as shall be shewed hereafter therefore on the contrary the setting or darkness of the Sun metaphorically denotes calamity sorrow and misery Jer. 15.9 Her Sun is gone down while it was yet day Chald. their glory is translated in their Life time that unexpected and most heavy calamities are treated of here the foregoing and following verses shew Amos 8.9 I will cause the Sun to go down at Noon and I will darken the Earth in a clear day that is I will suddenly overwhelm you with heavy strokes and calamities So Micah 3.6 Joel 2.10 and 3.4 Esa. 13.10 On the other side an Increase of the Sun and Moons Light metaphorically signifies great spiritual happiness Esa. 30.26 The light of the Moon shall be as the light of the Sun and the light of the Sun shall be seven-fold as the light of seven days c. As if he had said the help which I will afford you shall be so great and illustrious that in that time the two luminaries of the World the Sun and Moon as if they would congratulate the Deliverance of the People will be more chearful and more shining then they were wont to be Some refer this to an Hyperbole By the Name of Stars illustrious and principal men are understood Dan. 8.10 And it viz. that little horn by which Antiochus is understood waxed great even to the Host of Heaven and it cast down some of the Host and of the Stars to the ground and stamped upon them By the Host of Heaven the People of God or the Church sometimes circumscribed in Judea is understood but by Stars the Princes or chief men who by their administration in the Church or Commonwealth were of more eminency then others are noted hence in ver 24. it is so expounded he shall destroy the mighty and the holy people that is he shall destroy the highest and the lowest See 1 Macchab. 1.25 2. By the Name of Stars the Teachers of the Word of God and Church Rulers are figured Rev. 1.15 20. and 2.1 Which consideration fairly leads us to know 1. Their Lord and Master whose Countenance is said to shine as the Sun in its strength Rev. 1.16 1. As the Sun communicates his light to the Stars in Heaven So Christ the Sun of Righteousness Mal. 4.2 imparts the light of saving knowledge to his faithful Servants 2 Cor. 4.6 2. The Lord brings forth the Host of the Stars by number and calleth them all by Names Esa. 40.26 So Christ leads forth his Ministers in his Church as a sacred Host against Satan and the World and calleth them also by Name Ps. 68.11 2. Their Office God placed the Stars in the Firmament to enlighten the Earth Gen. 1.17 3. The light of Doctrine which the Ministers bring to the Church is from heaven and taken out of the heavenly and divine Word alone 2 Pet. 1.16.19 which is sweeter then honey to the souls of such as are taught of God Psal. 19.10 Psal. 119 103. but to others as Wormwood Rev. 8.11 Because they tast nothing but bitterness and a denunciation of damnation in it 4. A Star led the wise men to Christ Matth. 2.9 Ministers propose only that end in Preaching 1 Cor. 2.2 5. It is said that at the Commandment of the Holy One they viz. the Stars will stand in their order and never faint in their Watches Of the Ministers of the Word it is said Heb. 13.17 That they watch for the Souls of men Nor ought they to be discouraged in their Watches nor faint because of the Worlds ingratitude but both by doctrine and good example to keep the same order constantly and so they shall be quite different from these wandring Stars to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever Jude ver 13. They are to take care that all things be done decently and in order in the Church 1 Cor. 14.40 6. It is said of the Stars that they fought from Heaven against the Enemies of the People of God Judge 5.20 So a most grievous fight against Devils is proposed to the Ministers of the word Eph. 6.12 Let them look to it therefore that they manage their warfare rightly 2 Cor. 10.3 4 5. That they may be able to Glory in the Lord for the heavenly reward that will follow 2 Tim. 4.7 8. 7. It is said of the Stars that together with the Sun and Moon they divide between the day and between the night and are for Signs and for seasons and for days and for years Gen. 1.14 So it is the duty of Gospel Ministers to divide between the day and night light and darkness that is to inculcate and diligently shew the difference between good and evil piety and wickedness Esa. 5.20 Jer. 15.19 Rom. 13.12 13. 2 Cor. 6.14 15. c. Also to give signs and seasons that is to provide so as that the publick worship of God be kept up timely and seasonably and in their Ministerial function to impart their gifts suitable to the wants of the flock in the respective seasons that so there may be no disorder or confusion to shew also days and nights that is to proclaim the acceptable year of our Lord Esa. 61.2 and earnestly to inculcate the appointed day in which the Lord will Judge the World in Righteousness Acts 17.31 8. It is said of the Stars that they differ from one another in Glory So there is a great diversity of the gifts of the spirit in the Ministers of the Word 1 Cor. 12 4. c. 9. All the Stars of light are commanded to praise God Psal. 148.3 with Job 38.7 So all the Ministers of the word what measure of Grace soever they have received or whatsoever gift they exercise in the Church ought with ardency of spirit to praise the Lord to serve him heartily and without selfishness or envy to preserve mutual Peace and Concord among themselves and their reward shall be certain if they behave themselves faithfully and not only in this world but also in Eternity 10. Stars were seen by John worn in the Right hand of Christ Rev. 1.20 So let the faithful Labourers in the Gospel be certain of a most gracious protection by the omnipotent hand of Christ Esa. 51.16 c. and in the Life to come they that turn many unto Righteousness shall shine as the Stars for ever and ever Dan. 12.3 So much for Ecclesiastical Stars The Stars being obscured sometimes denote
with respect to his inward or efficacious decree of Creating things Psal. 104.7 compared with verses 5 6. Gen. 1.9 As also with respect to the Gospel of Christ Psal 68.34 by the term voice respect is had to the voice of Thunder Psal. 29. peruse ver 12.19 Eph. 4.10.11 To this belongs the Sirnames which Christ gave John and James 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sons of Thunder because they were principal and powerful Preachers of his Word Lightning by a metaphor signifies the bright or furbisht blade of a Lance or Sword which shines and terrifies like lightning Ezek. 21.10 Nahum 3.3 To denote the Anger of God a glittering Sword is attributed to him by an Anthropopathy Deut. 32.41 So is a glittering Spear Hab. 3.11 So it is said Job 20.25 The Lightning cometh so the Hebrew that is as our translation gives it a glistering Sword or as Pagninus render Iron or a Sword like Lightning Hail likewise as Thunder and Storms do carries the notion of Anger Vengeance and most heavy punishments and hence in that description of God in his great Majesty and manifestation of his power and Wrath Psal. 18.12 13 14. Hail is joyned with Lightnings and Thunder Esa. 28.17 And the Hail shall sweep away the Refuge of lies and the waters shall overflow the hiding place that is the vengeance to come shall overthrow the Refuge in which you vainly hope Just as if a storm of Hail and overflowing of Waters should overthrow and overwhelm the Tents you inhabit in in the Fields Esa. 32.19 And it shall Hail in the descent or steep part of the wood and the City shall be utterly abased This has a coherence with the foregoing description of the celestial happiness of the Godly by an Antithesis As if he had said although the whole World which the Prophet expresses Synecdochically by a wood and City that is unmanured and habitable places should be terrifyed for their wickedness or should threaten yet the Godly shall be preserved safely from all the impending or menacing mischiefs See Psal. 46.2 3. and the following verses Rain because it brings great profit to the Earth and yet if it be immoderate or unseasonable becomes hurtful is therefore metaphorically used in a twofold manner viz. in a good and bad sence Examples of the former are to be seen Ezek. 22.24 Thou art the Land which is not cleansed nor Rained upon in the Day of Indignation that is thou shalt not feel any case or relaxation of the pains or punishments which shall be inflicted on thee from on high Ezek. 34.26 The spiritual blessing in the Kingdom of Christ is set down in the similitude of a Shower or rain in season as the fruitfulness of the Earth is ver 2â—â— Hosea 10.12 It is time to seek the Lord till he come and Rain Righteousness upon you Or as the Hebrew is wet you with the rain of Righteousness viz Of Christ the Redeemer and Saviour the sence and application of whom in the hearts of men refreshâ—â— rejoyces and makes them fruitful in good works as Rain refreshes the Earth and renders it fruitful The Word is emphatical and signifies both Raining and Teaching and therefore some translate it that he may teach you Righteousness to intimate that true saving Righteousness cannot be obtained but through the Word of God which is a shower of Rain in season to refresh contrite sinners and hence it is compared to Rain because of the Rains usefulness Esa. 55.10 11. But that it signifies Rain in the place cited the foregoing Allegory of Raining deriv'd from fertilizing the Earth is very clear See Hos. 6.3 Zach. 14.7 2. Examples of the latter are to be read Job 20.23 VVhen he is about to fill his Belly God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him and shall Rain it upon him while he is eating By this and the following metaphors the plenty of punishments inflicted on the wicked as the effects of Gods Anger are denoted Psal. 11.6 Vpon the wicked he shall Rain snares Fire and Brimstone that is he shall copiously exercise dreadful Judgments upon them See Eccl. 12.2 Psal. 42.7 Deep calleth unto Deep at the noise of thy water-spouts By the Conduits or water conveyances for so the Word signifies are understood Clouds which pour down much Rain the meaning is that one trouble brings on another and whilst the former is scarce over another stands at the door as if invited or called by the first And as the Clouds send down great showers upon the Earth with much fierceness and noise causing hurtful floods and sometimes dangerous deluges So one Calamity ushers another upon me so that I am afflicted and terrified with great perils Snow is put for Glory Prosperity and Pleasantness of Canaan when delivered from Enemies Psal. 68.14 and Psal. 51.7 For cleansing from sin Esa. 1.18 And the eternal felicity of believers Dew which falls from the Air moistning and fertilizing the Earth in two places denotes the state of Believers 1. In this World as Psal. 110.3 The Dew of Christs youth is mentioned that is the Church of Believers adopted by the Spirit of Christ which like Dew is born again by the VVord and Gospel Ministrations and may be fitly compared to Dew because a faithful confession and pious conversation are edifying to others and win them for Christ rendring the Church fruitful as the Dew does the Earth as also with respect to the mutual commiseration love and benefits with which Christians comfort each other as Dew sweetly refreshes and as it were cheers the Earth when scorched and dried up by the Suns intemperate heat See Micah 5.7 Hos. 14.5 Psal. 33.3 2. In the world to come and Resurrection from the Dead Esa. 26.19 Thy Dew is as the Dew of herbs This is an acclamation to God whose gracious power and most powerful Grace which he exercises in the Resurrection of Believers is called Dew and compared to the Dew that falls upon herbs As if he had said as the Dew of Heaven refreshes and raises up those herbs which were as it were Dead and withered because of the Suns heat So thy power O God shall raise up and make thy Dead to Live c. For the connexion of the whole verse and propriety of the words shew that the Resurrection of the Dead is here treated of The Chaldee interprets it the Dew of Light which gives the light of eternal blessedness The paraphrase upon the whole verse is thus Thou art he which quickens the Dead thou raisest the bones of their Carkasses they shall live and praise thee before all who were before converted into dust because the Dew of light is thy Dew to such as observe thy Law but the wicked to whom thou gavest power and yet transgressed thy Law thou wilt cast in to Hell Metaphors taken from Water THese metaphors may be thus distinguished 1. Such things as concern the Name or Appellation of Waters 2. The Subjects or Things containing Water 3.
Luk. 7.14 Sometimes men afflicted and penitent called a bruised Reed Esa. 42.3 viz. A Reed of its self frail and weak is much more weak if it be shaken and bruised Our Saviour therefore promises that he will not by any means break such but rather strengthen consolidate and heal them Sometimes it signifies men great indeed but unable to help that are more mischievous and naught on which some are apt to rely or depend though to their loss as such do who lean on a weak and broken Reed to their own destruction 2 Kings 18.21 Esa. 36.6 Ezek. 29.6 7. A Rush or Bulrush signifies men of the basest and lowest condition Esa. 9.14 19.15 Wormwood because of its ungrateful tast and extream bitterness is by a metaphor brought to signifie sometimes sin and evil Deut. 29.18 Amos 5.7 and 6.12 See Deut. 32.32 Esa. 5.20 Rev. 8.11 Sometimes punishment or torment Jer. 9.15 23.15 Lam. 3.15 19. See Prov. 5.4 So much of the Species of things growing out of the Earth which yeild any Metaphors to which we may fitly subjoyn where mention is made of the containing Subject Which is 1. A Wood. 2. A Garden A Wood inasmuch as it contains many barren Trees is a symbol of infidelity and impiety Esa. 32.15 And because it is full of Trees and Shrubs it carries the notion of an entire Army Esa. 10.34 Of both which we have spoke before in the 10th Chap. where we spoke of Carmel and Lebanon A Garden is the place of the most eminent and choicest Plants and Trees especially that first Garden which we call Paradise The Church of Christ Cant. 4.12 is called a Garden inclosed or barred A Garden because of its spiritual fruitfulness barr'd because hid to the World hid with Christ in God Col. 3.3 The World knoweth us not 1 John 3.1 The same Church with its fruits of the Spirit ver 13. is called Paradise Of which elsewhere Heaven or Eternal Life is called Paradise Luk. 23.43 2 Cor. 12.4 Rev. 2.7 The reason of the metaphorical Appellation being drawn from the extraordinary pleasantness of that Garden and the great plenty of good things there Of Metaphors taken from the Olive-Tree and its Fruit. AMongst the things growing in the Land of Canaan three are most eminent by which its Goodness Fruitfulness and other Excellencies may be known viz. The Olive which is a Tree The Vine which is a Shrub And Grain or Corn of all sorts All which are joyned together Deut. 14.23 18.4 Psal. 104.14 15 16. c. Jer. 31.11 Hos. 2.8 22. Joel 2.19 and in the common Version Gen. 27.37 Psal. 4.7 8. Where the Syriack Interpreter expresses all three From each of these and things that bear affinity or relation to them there are a great many delicate Metaphors deduced in Scripture The People of Israel are called an Olive because of the great dignity with which they were invested by God Jer. 11.16 The Lord called thy Name a green Olive-Tree fair and of goodly fruit as if he had said thou hast been like a green and leafy Olive which most beautifully flourishes giving extraordinary hope of its Fruit. But the Antithesis follows With the noise of a greà t tumult or tempests he hath kindled fire upon it aâ—â—d the branches of it were broken that is as Junius and Tremellius have interpreted it they shall be like encountring storms of Winds which rushing into this place shall shake down thy flowers break the branches that is they will destroy small and great Afterwards they will consume with fire the very Town as if it were the stump of a Tree That these things were transacted the last Chapters of the Kings Chronicles and Jeremiah do fully make it out ver 17. This Olive is said to be planted by the Lord c. Zach. 4. What are called the two Olives ver 3 11 12. are said to be the two Sons of Oyl so the Hebrew ver 14. that is two Oleaginous Olives plentiful fat having as it were a spring of Oyl continually flowing This Metaphor signifies the perpetual supplies of spiritual gifts to the Church through Christ who was beyond measure anointed with the Oyl of gladness Psal. 45.7 from whom believers have this unction 1 John 2.20.27 But this was spoken to in the Chapter of an Anthropopathy Rom. 11.17 The Church of Israel is called an Olive eminent for fatness whose root Abraham may be said to be with respect to the Covenant God entred into with him and the promise of a blessed seed divine benediction and Eternal Life made to his believing posterity that is his Sons by Faith who believe as he did such being only the Sons of Abraham whether Jews or Gentiles Gal. 3.29 This being observed it is easie for any one to understand why the Gentiles are compared to a Wild Olive and what this ingrafting into the Olive is and the partaking of its root and fatness that is the fatness proceeding from the Root and diffused to the Branches by the figure Hendiadys as also the cutting off of the branches Rev. The two Witnesses raised by God by whom those sincere few Teachers of the Church in the midst of the Antichristian Tyranny and fury preserved by God are understood expressed by the number two because in the month of two or three Witnesses every Truth shall be established Deut. 19.15 2 Cor. 13.1 are called two Olives and two Candlesticks standing before the God of the Earth In the former Metaphor we are to understand the consolation of the Word of God given by the Holy Spirit the Oyl of gladness as also fruitfulness in good Works as the Olive is a most fruitful Tree and Constancy and Perseverance in the Faith under persecutions as the leaves of the Olive do not wither but are always green and the wood of the Olive-Tree never rots through age In the latter Metaphor Divine Illumination from the Word of God is understood that this is taken from the fore-cited place of Zach. 4. is evident Oyl The Fruit of the said Tree is much valued and much used amongst all sort of People and Nations In Scripture Metaphors sometimes it denotes an abundance of pleasant and acceptable things Deut. 32.13 Job 29.6 Sometimes Joy and Refreshment of mind if considered with respect to the anointing Esa. 23.5 Psal. 92.10 and 141.5 Cant. 1.3 Esa. 61.3 The Reason of the Metaphor is taken from the fragrancy and wholesomeness of this fruit From hence we may in a manner give a reason for the Name of Christ and Christians it being derived from the Vnction or annointing of the Holy Spirit which is compared to Oyl Esa. 10.27 There is mention made of Oyl And it shall come to pass on that day that his burden shall be removed from off thy shoulder and his yoke from off thy Neck and the yoke shall be destroyed from the face of Oyl or from before the Oyl Which the Chald. expounds of the Messiah Junius and
Doctrine 1 Cor. 8.10 c. To War Fight c. is put for the spiritual fight of Believers against the Devil the World and the Flesh Esa. 40.2 2 Cor. 10.4 Eph. 6.12 1 Tim. 1.18 2 Tim. 2.3 4. and 4.7 Phil. 1.27 T is said of such things as disagree amongst themselves as Flesh and Spirit Rom. 7.23 Jam. 4.1 1 Pet. 2.21 Prayers are spiritual weapons Rom. 15.30 Col. 4.12 c. To Commit Adultery or play the Whore is put for Idolatry and Impiety of which there are abundance of examples in Scripture Exod. 34.15 16. Deut. 31.16 Jude 2.17 and 8.27.33 2 Kings 9.22 1 Chron. 5.25 Esa. 1.21 and 57.3 4. Jer. 2.20 and 3.1 6 8 9. and 13.27 and 23.14 Ezek. 16.15 2. and 23.3 Hos. 1.2 and 4.12 and 5.3 and 6.10 Nahum 3.4 Rev. 2.20.21 22. and 14.8 and 17.2 and 18.3 c. The Reason of the Metaphor is because God hath joyned and as it were espoused his Church to himself in a spiritual Contract or Covenant that thereby he may beget spiritual Children to be eternally saved If the Church therefore will basely forsake him and run to Idols without any respect to the violation of that Conjugal engagement it is spiritual Adultery and the Scripture so stiles it c. To Bewitch it put for to Seduce by wicked Doctrine Gal. 3.1 Apostates and such as persecute the Saints are said Heb. 6.6 To Crucifie the Son of God afresh In which sence Rome the seat of Antichrist is thus described Rev. 11.8 The great City which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt where also our Lord was Crucified Which Periphrasis denotes the cruel persecution of true Christians with all the oppression and Massacres perpetrated by Rome and its Instruments where ever they have power to act For whatsoever injuries are offered to Believers are by the Holy Spirit said to be offered to Christ himself because none of the Members can be hurt but the head sympathizes and suffers with it as was said before Origen says By every Martyrs condemnation Jesus is condemned For if a Christian be condemned for this alone that he is a Christian it is Christ then that is condemned and so Crucifyed Metaphors taken from the Containing Subjects TO this belongs 1 Generally Place and its Dimensions 2. Particularly the Habitations of Men. To the Dimensions or differences of place belongs Altitude or height which when referred to the mind and understanding of man metaphorically denotes an abstruse thing or that which is difficult to be understood Prov. 24.7 Wisdom is too high for a fool that is he cannot attain it See Prov. 14.6 A Word that has affinity with this denotes the distraction of an irresolute mind by reason of divers cares and doubts Luke 12.29 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Be ye not lifted up on high we translate it be ye not of a doubtful mind this metaphor is taken from Meteors and denotes a mind as it were hung up in the Air apt to be blown hither by every blast the meaning is be not distracted with various cares for your sustentation but acquiesce in the hope of Divine help Gen. 43.18 We are brought in that he may Roll himself upon us and fall upon us and take us for bondmen This is an elegant metaphor taken from the fall of a Body from an high place or precipice upon which Junius says Metaphora duplex a corporibus magnae ponderosae molis c. A double metaphor taken from bodies of a great and weighty bulk which by wheeling as it were are tumbled down from on high and the higher they are by so much the more violence do they fall As if he had said whereas he has no lawful cause of quarrel against us he will make us Captives or Bondmen by this pretext of money c. To go Backward denotes Apostacy Jer. 7.14 To turn their Hearts back again signifies Repentance and their abhorring Baal whom they thought to be a God 1 King 18.37 See Esa. 50.5 To turn to the Right Hand or Left Hand Gen. 24.49 signifies a desire what to do or not to do the metaphor being taken from such as are doubtful when they come to a parting way which to take and are wont to be directed by that phrase turn to the right or left hand This phrase is used with respect to Divine Obedience when men are commanded to walk neither to the Right nor Left hand that is to keep exactly to that rule and order with respect to Gods Worship which he hath set down in his Word Deut. 5.32 17.11 20. 28.14 Josh. 1.7 23.6 Prov. 4.27 Esa. 30.21 c. The Right side is a symbol of prudence circumspection and honesty and the Left of imprudence temerity and incogitancy Eccl. 10.2 c. Latitude or Largeness gives some metaphors 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dilatare to inlarge signifies a deliverance and help from Calamity Psal. 4.1 Psal. 18.19 and 31.8 9. Prov. 18.16 So Narrowness betokens Trouble and Affliction Psal. 25.16.17 31.9 138.6 7. Prov. 11.8 24.10 The Metaphor being taken from narrow places or men shut up besieg'd or surrounded by an enemy in a narrow Compass which exposes them to much distress and difficulties of deliverance A heart enlarged signifies Joy Psal. 119.32 Isa. 60.5 See 2 Cor. 6.11 12 13. c. This enlarging of heart denotes sometimes great wisdom and vertue 1 Kings 4.29 Sometimes Pride and Audacity Psal. 101.4 5. Prov. 21.4 and 28.25 See 1 Sam. 2.1 2 Cor. 6.11 Eph. 6.19 Psal. 81.10 11. 119.131 c. Of Places where men Dwell we will shew 1 Their parts 2 Their species or kinds The Parts from which Metaphors are taken are 1. Foundation in which we are to consider 1 Its Dignity being the principal part of the Edifice which supports the whole weight of the building Hence Christ is call'd a Foundation of the Church which is his spiritual house Isa. 28.16 1 Cor. 3.10.11 Eph. 2.20 See Matth. 16.16 18. 1 Pet. 2.4 5. Jude ver 20. Rev. 21.14 because from him and by him and in him are all things which are needful for the gathering preserving and saving of his Church 2 Its stedfastness stability and firmness which makes the whole building strong and durable Hence it is said of the Creation of the Earth that solid and immoveable body together with its parts Exod. 9.18 Job 38.4 Psal. 24.1 2. 104.5 Prov. 3.19 8.29 Heb. 1.10 Hence 't is put for the ground which we tread upon Hab. 3.13 by making naked the foundation so the Hebrew that is by clearing your land of its Enemies who so covered it as if they had taken a perpetual Root in it ver 6. More Metaphors you may find Prov. 10.25 2 Tim. 2.19 Joh. 6.27 Isa. 14.32 Eph. 3.18 Col. 1.23 'T is put for to Consult or Deliberate because every Design must have a beginning Psal. 2.2 31.13 14. and to appoint decree or ordain so as that a thing should be firm and certain 1 Chron. 9.21
his protection like a refreshing shade is round about them Thou hast been a shadow from the heat II. God is the Souls chief and only Sanctuary When I am afraid saith David I will trust in thee that is as the Emphasis of the word bears I will retire into thee my blessed Habitation for thou art a strength to the poor and needy and a refuge from the storm When the blast of the terrible one is as a storm against the wall c. In the strangest Convulsions of State Revolutions of Kingdoms and Epidemical Calamities that afflict the World the Inhabitants of this blessed Mansion are sure to enjoy certain safety and tranquility III. Such as dwell in this heavenly habitation are preserved from a dead frozen and benummed frame of spirit they are made zealous and warm for God fervent in spirit serving the Lord inflamed with a divine fervour by the influence of the holy Spirit which is called Fire animating them with courage and resolution to stand for God and his ways against all opposition IV. God is a good mans chief comfort he is the joy and delight of his Soul for as he is the summum bonum in himself so all good things are radically and originally derivative from him therefore such as would partake thereof must have recourse to him In him is the Saints treasure laid up with him is the most desirable Communion Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none on earth that I desire besides thee says David V. Such is God to the Soul thither is the weary and heavy laden sinner invited in order to receive rest there 's eternal repose after the troublesome Pilgrimage of the flesh in reversion for all that die in the Lord Return unto thy rest O my Soul saith David c. VI. God is a Christians Home one may be said to be absent from God when he strays abroad giving the full Reins to a loose carnal and dissolute mind pursuing the vanities and follies of the world neglecting the solid comforts and delights of his proper home exposing himself to the hazards and disorders of a strange and dangerous entertainment among his Soul-Enemies whereas to live with God in a way or spiritual Love and Communion is to dwell in God and makes way for a more immediate and personal participation of his glory after death which made the Apostle desire to depart Phil. 1 21 22 23. Because death was gain to him inasmuch as it was to state him in his blessed and eternal home VII The Lord Jesus is the way that leads to this heavenly habitation I am the way the truth and the life no man cometh to the Father but by me he is a Priest to attone a King to govern and a Prophet to teach and direct his people VIII God is a Sanctuary to his Saints and a safe retreating place from the assaults of Satan sin and in-bred corruption From these Enemies there is no safety but by flying to the mercy of God in Christ. IX Christ is the Door that lets into this heavenly habitation this Door is always open to such only as are his known and approved Friends I am the Door by me if any man enter he shall be saved No man knoweth the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son shall reveal him X. This heavenly habitation is furnished with all those glorious Ornaments that are needful for spiritual profit or delight Gospel Institutions and Ordinances are by Expositors understood to be the Galleries of this habitation where the King is held In all places where I record my Name I will come unto thee and I will bless thee The blood of Christ is a Fountain of life Rev. 21.6 A Fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness Zach. 13.1 His Church is his Garden A Garden inclosed is my Sister my Spouse Cant. 4.12 His word as a green and pleasant pasture Psal. 23.2 and his Spirit the Spring that waters every plant and flower I will pour water upon him that is thirsty and floods upon the dry ground I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed c. Isa. 44.3 XI 'T is an Interest in God that makes a Soul to value him at so high a rate Thou art my God I will praise thee Thou art my God I will exalt thee Psal. 118.28 The Lord is my portion therefore will I hope in him XII To this heavenly habitation friends are solemnly invited Hoe every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters and he that hath no money come come ye buy and eat yea come buy Wine and Milk without monâ—â—y and without price Now hath God granted to the Gentiles who were Strangers and Aliens repentance unto life This is the receptacle of poor hungry souls where a plentiful relief is daily given and freely distributed XIII He that dwells not in God through Christ is in a very sad and dismal condition being exposed to the cursâ—â— of the Law and divine wrath upon the wicked he shall rain snares fire and brimstone and an horrible tempest XIV The glorious Attributes of God are as so many retiring Rooms and places of security and repose to which the Saints must have recourse in times of danger Come my people enter thou into thy chambers and shut thy doors about thee hide thy self as if it were for a little moment until the indignation be overpast More particularly inasmuch as he is Omniscient he knows what 's best for us and we ought to acquiesce in his will He is all wise and therefore orders all things to work for our spiritual good He is Almighty and can accomplish or effectually bring to pass whatsoever his knowledge dictates for our good He is faithful and therefore whatsoever he has promised shall be certainly fulfilled He is good and merciful which is a great encouragement to sinners to make application to him and commit themselves to his protection When I am afraid saith David I will put my trust in thee He is eternal and therefore an Everlasting Salvation c. METAPHOR I. A Habitation or house though never so stately and magnificent is yet the work and contrivance of a humane Architect and is composed of perishing materials II. Habitations here below serve only to accommodate the body the Rich Man in the Gospel that fared sumptuously every day had no Habitation for his Soul but Hell verse 23. III. A Habitation may be overthrown by an Earthquake blown down by a Storm demolished by an Enemy consumed by fire or the decays of time c. IV. A House may secure from some but not all dangers for Thieves may rob us of our Treasure or an Enemy if stronger may dispossess us and strip us of that and all our Estate V. A Habitation in its circumference and dimensions is limited and may be easily filled neither is any so compleat but may admit of further improvement or
that he is very pitiful and of tender Mercy 4. We must always imprint this as an undoubted Truth and sure Maxim in our Minds That tho God sometimes afflicts 〈◊〉 may afflict his Children as a bare Act of his Sovereignty Sin being not directly the Occasion thereof yet nothing God doth or can do is unjust I know O Lord that thy Judgments are right and that thou in Faithfulness hast afflicted me All his Ways are Judgment a God of Truth and without Iniquity just and righteous in all his Ways That is his Administrations or his Doings as Mr. Ainsworth noteâ—â— are Judgment that is judicious equal A God of Truth or Faithful without Iniquity or there is in him no Iniquity no injurious Evil Right or righteous is he Consider further 5. That the greatest and sorest Afflictions that godly Men may meet with are no sufficient Ground to conclude they are cast out of God's Favour For the best of Saints and dearest Servants of God have been from the beginning under the greatest Exercise of Affliction As many as he loves he rebukes and chastens 6. Another thing that we should premise is That the Afflictions which we meet with in this World come not by chance They are all measured out by God's ordering Providence in matter and manner for kind and quality And tho the Judgments and Dealings of God are sometimes very secret and hard to be understood at first we ought with Patience to bear them and humbly wait till God is pleased to shew us his Mind and Pleasure in them 7. We must consider that it is our Duty to acknowledg all our Troubles and Afflictions and whatever they be as coming from God and look beyond Instruments and secondary Causes Is there any Evil in the City and I have not done it He breaketh me with Breach upon Breach and runneth upon me like a Giant He Why some may say It was the Devil and his Agents viz. the Sabeans and Chaldeans c. Job knew that no Devil or wicked Man could hurt or touch him if God did not give them leave and open the Door for them These things being premised I now shall give you five or six Reasons why God ran thus upon Job or breaks forth after this manner upon sincere Persons when Sin is not the Cause It is necessary to note this by the way That God doth frequently single out the most eminent and choicest of his Children to undergo the sharpest and sorest Affliction because they have the greatest Strength Joseph excelled for Grace and Vertue and therefore he is singled out from all his Brethren to hard Works and Sufferings No Man like Job in all the Earth in his Day for a perfect and upright Man and what a Man of Sorrows and Afflictions was he Those that have received most Grace from God are able to bear most Afflictions from God A General of an Army chuseth out the most valiant and experienced Souldiers to put them upon hard Adventures It is not prudent to put a Fresh-water Souldier upon difficult Service As Christ saith I have many things to say unto you but you cannot bear them now and therefore deferred till they had got more Strength So God saith of a young Christian one that is newly converted Thou hast great Afflictions to undergo before thou diest but thou art not fit to bear them yet I will defer thy Trial till thou art grown more hardy and fit for that Encounter as our Saviour told Peter John 21.18 1 Reason One Reason why God ran thus upon Job like a Giant or brings sore and severe Trials upon his dearest Servants is That he may fit them for eminent Work and Service Hereby they learn Experience and Knowledg not only how to carry themselves in dark and dismal Days but to teach others also how to behave themselves under Trials 2. That God might crucify them unto all the things of this World They do not only this way come to see the Vanity and Emptiness of them but to be dead unto them In Prosperity the Hearts of the best of Men are ready to be ensnared with the World therefore God brings Adversity upon them And indeed it is every way as good and useful for a Saint as Winter and sharp Frosts are to the Fruits of the Earth which kills the Worms and Weeds that otherwise would greatly hurt and injure them God's Jobs have a Body of Sin and Death in them as well as others and nothing like Affliction tends to destroy it The Corruptions of our Hearts are compared to Chaff and Dross which the Furnace of Affliction burns up and purges away No Man is so pure and clean but he needs to be made more pure and more holy Job was very good before but God made him much better by the Rod before he had done with him He was Gold before his Trial but afterwards refined Gold When I am tried I shall come forth as Gold to wit refined Gold 3. God brings his Jobs under great Exercises and Afflictions for the Trial of their Graces Grace never shines forth in its real Splendor and Glory until it comes to be tried A Saint knows not what his Faith can do until it is brought under Exercise Abraham knew not the Strength of his Faith and Love until he was called to offer up his Son Isaac He with-held not his Son his only Son Isaac whom he loved such was his Love to God And if we respect his Faith 't is said He believed in Hope against Hope that he might become the Father of many Nations According to that which was spoken so shall thy Seed be He being not weak in Faith considered not his own Body being now dead when he was about an hundred Years old neither the deadness of Sarah's Womb He staggered not through Vnbelief but was strong in Faith giving Glory to God By Faith he offered him up accounting that God was able to raise him up even from the Dead From whence also he received him in a Figure How did Job's Patience shine forth when it came under Exercise by all those sore and bitter Afflictions he met withal The greater the Temptation or Trial is if the Soul can resist it and bear up under it the greater Demonstration there is of the Strength and Power of that Grace the Soul possesseth The Almighty shews hereby the Strength and Unmoveableness of Faith how unconquerable it is what kind of Omnipotency there is in Grace He would have all the World know that a godly Person is in vain assaulted by Friends or Enemies by Men or Devils by Wants and Wounds tho he be even benighted in his Spirit tho God himself takes away the Light of his Countenance from him and runs upon him like a Giant yet that over all these things God's Grace can make him stand and cause him to be more than a Conqueror For in the Book of Job we may say is an
the Kingdom puts a difference between Egypt and Israel secludes Hymeneus and Philetus Hypocrites and Hereticks and all unclean Persons that the Peace of the Family may be preserved hath threatned they that trouble it shall bear their Judgment whoever they be God divorced the Church of Israel c. XXVI God upon this Ground hath tho he account it his strange Work turn'd to be an Enemy to those â—â—f his own Houshold and hath not only cast them out but drawn his glittering Sword made sharp by whetting bent his Bow and prepared his Arrows upon the String made sick in smiting and utterly destroyed aâ—â— in the Case of Israel Judah and Jerusalem XXVII God sware in his Wrath that they should not enter into his Rest and left them to expectation of fiery Indignation XXVIII Thus God dealt with Israel and Judah gave Jacob to the Spoil and Israel to the Robbers and was so far from interposing between them and Danger that he gave them up to fearful Ruine from the Chaldeans and to the Romans in the Time of Josephus declaring that his Eye should not pity neither would he have Mercy And as to particular Persons David told Solomon that if he forsook God God would cast him off for ever Thus those are confounded even as Judas Iscariot was and as Jesus Christ speaks of the Branches that abide not They are cast off and Men gather them and they come to Burning and as Salt when good for nothing is cast to the Dunghill and trodden under foot XXIX God that he might be justified in all his Actions hath appointed a general Judgment to bring forth his Works and Actions that he may clear himself and overcome when he is judged Hence it is said He hath appointed a Day in which he will judg the World in Righteousness call all his Houshold to account before the Angels and there make his Justice shine as the Sun at Noon in respect of all his Providences and Dispensations XXX God certainly rewards all Men for well-doing both in this World and that which is to come Verily shall one say there is a Reward for the Righteous when there is a God that judges in the Earth The Righteous shall be recompenced in the Earth Godliness hath the Promise of the Life that now is and that which is to come Metaphor I. AN Housholder in this World hath but a small Family tho never so great a Person Solomon was the greatest we read of yet small in comparison c. II. An Housholder in this World is but a Steward under another c. III. An Housholder in this World wants Wisdom and may be defective in respect of Government over his Houshold IV. An Housholder cannot of himself make his Family V. An Housholder in this World cannot communicate Strength nor secure from falling by Sickness or Death till they have finished the Work which he hath committed to them VI. An Housholder in this World may be taken away from his Houshold by human Force or by Sickness and Death VII An Housholder in this World may be from home about other Business not all times doing his Family good VIII An Housholder in this World tho he be at home and well yet he may be asleep and Evil come in the same Instant IX An Housholder may be taken away captive or forced to flie from his Family tho as valiant as David as wise as Solomon as great and mighty as Belshazzar and Darius X. An Housholder cannot always preserve his Family in Peace nor give them everlasting Rewards Disparity I. GOD hath a very great Family as numerous as the Stars or the Sand of the Sea The God of the whole Earth shall he be called The Earth is the Lord's and the Fulness thereof The Fathers and the Children are all his and the whole World receives great Benefits by him c. He gives all their Meat in due season He makes the Sun to shine and the Rain to fall on the Just and Vnjust II. But God is absolute Head and Lord under no Commission neither in subjection to any III. God is infinitely wise and good perfect in Knowledg hath all Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledg hath Depths of Wisdom and Knowledg unsearchable and past finding out 'T is impossible for him to err or miscarry in any case his Way is perfect IV. But God is the Maker of his Family from the highest to the lowest Thou hast made us and not we our selves c. V. But God is able to make all Grace abound to make the Arms of their Hands strong to renew their Strength like the Eagle to make the Weak become as David and David as the Angel of God so as to run and not be weary to walk and not faint VI. God is always abiding as he hath no beginning of Days nor end of Life He is the eternal and ever-living God VII God is never from home about other Business cannot be out of the way of doing his Family good because every where present on Earth as well as in Heaven He fills his own Work therefore promised to be with them in the Fire and in the Water and promised never to leave them nor forsake them VIII But God the Keeper of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps for Night and Day the Dark and the Light are alike to him and between the Land and the Sea there is no difference For his Ways are in the Dark in the Deep and his Footsteps are in the mighty Waters IX But God yea the Omnipotent God cannot be invaded nor carried away captive he keeps his Place and is immoveable None hath an Arm like God and by Strength nor no other way shall any prevail over him God is Omnipotent Powerful Invincible c. X. But God the Preserver of Men and of the Souls of his Saints can so preserve in Peace that none darâ—â—s approach to rob his Family of it God gives his Family Consolation and good Hope here and Reward or Inheritance hereafter which shall never fade away nor be taken from them Inferences 1. IF God be an Housholder we infer against Epicures that he is and must be concerned in the Affairs of this lower World why otherwise should all things look up to him as the Psalmist saith and how should they be cared for and provided for as Christ himself and St. Paul averr God gives not his Spirit once and no more but it is given to his People daily and hourly 't is that gives us our daily and common Bread and taketh care of us c. 2. We infer how greatly ignorant most of the World are in that they do not account it a great Privilege to be under the Conduct of God and enquire what they should do to please him 3. What a mighty Blessing and Privilege they have who are under his Conduct that is able to do all manner of Good for them in this World and reward with everlasting Life in the World to come
him and coming into the World Secondly by those hard things he met with in this Life for our sakes Thirdly by shedding of his Blood Fourthly he commends his Love by the continual Motions of his Spirit upon our Hearts and by those inward Checks of Conscience besides those blessed Offers and Tenders of Grace which dropp'd from his gracious Lips If any Man thirst let him come unto me and drink Look unto me and be saved all ye Ends of the Earth Come to me all ye that are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you Rest. Behold I stand at the Door and knock if any Man hear my Voice and open the Door I will come in unto him and sup with him and he with me IX Jesus Christ loves poor Sinners not for any thing he sees in them not for Beauty Riches c. For naturally Mankind hath nothing that may render them any way desirable in Christ's eye he might see enough in them to loath them but nothing to love them X. Jesus Christ sues hard is very importunate uses many powerful and weighty Arguments to prevail with Sinners to accept of the Terms of Grace and join in an holy Contract of Love with him 1. One is taken from the Dignity of his Person being the Root and Off-spring of David David's Lord as well as David's Son I saith he and my Father are one 2. From that early Love and good Will he bore to them When there were no Depths was I brought forth When he gave the Sea his Decree Then was I by him as one brought up with him and I was daily his Delight rejoycing always before him Rejoycing in the habitable Parts of the Earth and my Delights were with the Sons of Men. And in another place I have loved thee with an everlasting Love therefore with Loving-kindness have I drawn thee 3. From the Intention or Purpose of his coming so long a Journey I am come that ye might have Life Not to call the Righteous but Sinners to Repentance Come to seek and to save that which was lost 4. His great Abasement and Condescension 5. From his Suffering I lay down my Life for my Sheep Can there be a greater Argument than this 6. He argues with Sinners from the Consideration of their own Misery and that absolute Necessity there is of closing with him and the blessed Effects of it He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting Life and he that believeth not the Son shall not see Life but the Wrath of God abideth on him XI Jesus Christ waits long and hath much Patience before he doth desist his Suit and leave Sinners to perish in their Iniquities How long did infinite Patience wait upon the old World was it not one hundred and twenty Years and forty Years upon Israel in the Wilderness I have saith he spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious People But if he prevails at last he thinks nothing too much that he has suffered for Sinners He waits at the Door of his Spouse until his Head is wet with Dew and his Locks with the Drops of the Night yet does he not think all too much XII Jesus Christ doth express and manifest great Love to Sinners which he intends to take into Covenant-Relation with himself His Love like Nilus overflows all Banks and Bounds his Grace is without Limits beyond the Love of Jonathan to David What doth the Gospel shew or express more plainly than the Strength of Christ's Love to Sinners Christ express'd such Love that never any other had in laying down his Life for his Enemies for such that were Rebels to him and his Father There is Depth Heighth Length and Breadth in it it passeth Knowledg XIII Jesus Christ is greatly troubled at the ungrateful Repulses he meets with from Sinners which appears 1. By his being grieved He was grieved because of the Hardness of their Hearts When he drew near to Jerusalem he wept over it perceiving how basely they had slighted and rejected him 2. By condoling and bewailing their miserable State and Obstinacy Israel will have none of me O Jerusalem Jerusalem how often would I have gathered thy Children together as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her Wings and ye would not 3. By hiding of his Face and bringing Afflictions upon them I will go and return to my place till they acknowledg their Offences and seek my Face In their Afflictions they will seek me early XIV Jesus Christ notwithstanding all the Unkindnesses of Sinners hath afforded them his Word wherein is expressed his good Will and Desire to them nay and more than this sends many a kind Message to them by the sweet Motions of his Spirit to awaken their Consciences before he leaves them finally Thus he strove with the old World XV. Jesus Christ sends his faithful Ministers who are as Spokesmen for their Master I have saith Paul espoused you to one Husband that I may present you as a chast Virgin to Christ. I have espoused you the meaning is I have been employed as an Instrument sent and commissionated by the Lord Jesus to do it Many Arguments they use to bring poor Sinners to accept of the Offers of Grace and receive Jesus Christ as 1. They like Abraham's Servant set forth the Greatness and Riches of their Master The Lord saith he hath blessed my Master greatly and he is become great he hath given him Flocks and Herds Silver and Gold c. And Sarah my Master's Wife bare a Son to my Master when she was old and to him hath he given all that he hath God is very great all things in Heaven and Earth are his the Cattel upon a thousand Hills and saith the Servant of God he hath given unto Christ all that he hath All things are delivered unto me of my Father Christ is very rich the Heir of all things 2. They set not out only the Greatness and Riches of Christ but his excellent Beauty also Thou art fairer than the Children of Men. 3. The Power of Christ. 4. His Wisdom 5. His Love and rich Bounty 6. They set before Sinners what the Promises are if they receive him and what Glory they shall be raised to 7. The Wofulness of their present State and what it will be in the end if they do refuse him Knowing therefore the Terror of the Lord we persuade Men. XVI Jesus Christ sends tokens of his gracious Love to all such that he intends to marry and betroth unto himself for ever he gives them a Cabinet of costly Jewels the Graces of the Spirit to adorn them They shall be an Ornament of Grace unto thy Head and Chains about thy Neck Grace is like a Box of precious Ointment whose odoriferous Smell perfumes the Hearts and Lives of Believers XVII Jesus Christ cannot endure that the Heart of-a Professor should be divided or that a Man or Woman should have
who think Christ Jesus will never appear as a Lion but always shew himself in his Lamb-like Disposition Christ is a Lion as well as a Lamb and will ere long rise up to the Prey 2. What will become of the Murtherers and Destroyers of his Church in the Day of his fierce Wrath when he comes to make Inquisition for Blood 3. O that Sinners from hence would learn to prostrate themselves at his feet 4. This speaks much Comfort to the Godly He is full of Bowels and like a Lion able to defend and deliver them 5. By Faith and Prayer let us strive to rouze up this Lion of the Tribe of Judah to tear in pieces all his implacable Enemies Christ the true Manna John 6.50 This is the Bread which cometh down from Heaven that a Man may eat thereof and not die Rev. 2.17 To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden Manna CHRIST and the Graces of Christ are called Manna the Antitype of that Manna that fell in the Wilderness Exod. 16. Manna in Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Man from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Manah preparare to prepare because it was Food prepared from Heaven for the Israelites in the Wilderness Flacc. Illyricus and others say That when the Israelites saw it like congealed Dew or small Hail or Snow lying up and down about the Camp they asked one another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 What 's that what 's that And because of frequent Repetition that it might be more easily pronounced they added the Letter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and pronounced Manhu whence they retain the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Man Manna Type I. MAnna was a strange and mysterious thing at first to the Israelites they knew not what it was II. Manna was Food prepared from Heaven III. Manna came down or descended from Heaven IV. Manna was white it was a pure fair and bright thing V. Manna was round in Form and Figure VI. Manna was a Gift it was given to Israel freely it cost them nothing VII Manna was given to all to the Poor as well as to the Rich none were forbidden to partake thereof VIII Manna was pleasant it had all the Taste and Relish of Sweetness in it IX Manna did nourish well and was given in great plenty X. Manna was to be bruised in a Mill that so it might become more useful for Food XI Manna was given equally to all the Israelites they had all a certain measure not one more than another were all Fellow-commoners every Man had his part his Omer XII Manna was a small and little thing unto the Eye like to a Coriander-Seed XIII Manna came down with the Dew it was covered or hid as it were with Dew XIV Manna was not given to the Israelites whilst they were in Egypt XV. Manna fell round about the Camp of Israel and in no other place XVI Manna was given to Israel in the Wilderness it was their only Food whilst they remained in that desert State XVII It was gathered daily except on the Sabbath then there was none to be found XVIII They went out of their Tents to gather it XIX If Manna was kept or received otherwise than God ordained and appointed it stank and bred Worms XX. Manna ceased when Israel came into Canaan XXI Manna was only given to the Israelites XXII Those that would receive the Benefit of Manna were to eat it XXIII Manna came very seasonably to Israel they had else starved XXIV Manna was to be kept and put in a Golden Pot before the Lord to remain in the Holiest for ever XXV Manna was loathed by those evil Murmurers on whom the Wrath of God fell they esteemed it light Bread XXVI In the day before the Sabbath in the night Manna fell abundantly that so they might gather it on that day to provide Food for the Sabbath Parallel I. JEsus Christ is the Wonder of Men and Angels and when He came into this World yea to his own they knew him not II. Christ had a Body prepared of the Father that he might be Food for Believers III. Christ is the true Bread or Manna from Heaven IV. Sic Christus describitur Apoc. 1. So is Christ described without Sin V. Christ respecting his Divinity is infinite perfect and entire no beginning no end VI. Christ is called a Gift the choicest Gift that ever God bestowed given freely for the Life of the World VII Christ is sent to all to Jews and Gentiles to the Small as well as the Great to the Poor as well as the Rich none are excluded VIII Whatsoever is pleasant sweet and delicious in a spiritual sence is found in Christ his Word is sweet as Honey or the Honey-Comb O taste and see how good the Lord is IX Christus sufficit ad omnes c. Christ is very sufficient and plentiful there is in him enough to nourish and feed all What Soul is there but may be filled to the full if he comes to Christ X. Christus ut animis nostris cibus esset doloribus mortis in Cruce contundebatur Christ that he might be Food for our Souls was bruised It pleased the Father to bruise him XI All true Israelites have their equal Share in Christ a whole Christ is given to every Saint they have all one Portion one Husband one Kingdom and Crown that fadeth not away XII Christ was little low and contemptible in the Eyes of the World of no reputation XIII Christ came down with the Dew of the Spirit being baptized or covered therewith hence called as some conceive hidden Manna XIV Christ who is the true Manna is not given to Unbelievers that remain in Bondage and Slavery under the Power of Sin and Satan XV. Christ is conversant within the Limits of his Church The Graces of the Spirit fall upon Mount Hermon the Dew descends upon the Mountains of Zion There God commanded the Blessing even Life for evermore Christ walks in the midst of the Golden Candlesticks XVI Christ and the Blessings of Christ are given to us who are in the Desert or Wilderness of this World We have no other Food for our Souls but are to live upon Christ by Faith so long as we are in this howling Wilderness XVII Those that would have Christ must seek him in the Time God hath appointed In the Day of the glorious Rest or Sabbath that remains to the People of God there will be no Christ no Manna for Sinners XVIII We must go out of the old Man and sensual Rests and Love of this World if we would participate of Christ. XIX The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper or any other Institutions of Christ made use of or received in other manner than Christ hath ordained and appointed it stinks in the Nostrils of God and is abhorred by good Men. XX. Living by Faith and our being fed by Ordinances will cease when
Will and one who knew all the Father's Secrets No Man hath seen God at any time save the only begotten Son of God which is in the Bosom of the Father he hath declared him XIII Jesus Christ hath excelled all that went before him in this respect He was not applauded by the People only who said he was a Teacher come from God that he taught like one that had Authority and never Man spake like him but he was commended as one fit to be heard by God himself and that with an audible Voice from Heaven This is my beloved Son hear ye him This great Prophet of the Most High hath in pursuit of his Prophetical Office laid a fair Foundation for the Church to build upon in these great and most important Points 1. He hath set forth God in the Excellency of his Nature and Perfections He hath told us we are to have Faith in him to love him with all our whole Soul and with all our Strength and to worship him in Spirit and in Truth 2. He hath set forth Himself as Mediator the immediate Object of Faith and to be followed in his Life and Doctrine Another Foundation can no Man lay 3. He hath confirmed the Holy Scriptures as the Rule of Worship directing Men to them for the Regulation of their Hearts and Lives Search the Scriptures 'T is written in your Law c. And to the young Man that would know what he should do to inherit eternal Life he said How readest thou c. 4. He hath set forth the World to come in the Glory of it as the Reward of Worship telling them that there is a Kingdom to be given and The Pure in Heart shall see God XIV Jesus Christ hath not only as the Author of our Faith laid a sure Foundation for us to build upon but as the Finisher thereof hath Store of Gifts and Graces to bestow which he hath promised to give down and hath also proposed such Examples and Precepts touching all the Particularities of our Duty which if followed cannot miss of perfecting and making the Church compleat Be ye merciful as Be ye perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect Love one another Walk as you have me for an Example and what you would that Men should do to you that do unto them This is the Law and the Prophets XV. Jesus Christ was the most perfect Copy to write by the best Example to conform our Lives unto that ever our Eyes beheld or that ever appeared 1. In his unparallel'd Meekness Humility Self-Denial and Contempt of this World 2. His unwearied Patience under Afflictions and Sufferings 3. His Zeal and Forwardness to do good even to the worst of his Enemies XVI Jesus Christ hath given forth Scripture by the glorious Power of the Holy-Ghost which are the four Evangelists and all the Epistles and as to the Book of the Apocalypse he hath so confirm'd it that he hath made it Damnation to any that shall add to it or diminish from it XVII Herein Jesus Christ hath compleated his Work as a Prophet He did expound to his Disciples what was written in the Law of Moses in the Prophets and in the Psalms concerning himself And not only so but he foretold them things that were yet to come to pass as the Destruction of Jerusalem and the Captivity of the Jews He did not conceal but plainly told that there should be a Day of Distress such as had not been since they were a Nation And soon after his Ascension sent his Angel to signify to his Servant John for the teaching all his Churches many things that are and shortly should come to pass As 1. The Rise Reign and Ruine of the last Beast 2. The Suffering of the Church in the Wilderness during his Reign 3. The Glory Grandure horrid Wickedness and fearful Overthrow of Mystery Babylon 4. The going forth of the everlasting Gospel into all the World 5. And lastly his own coming in Glory with the New Jerusalem the holy Angels and all Saints to solemnize the last and dreadful Judgment Prophet I. ALL other Prophets besides Christ were inspired by Christ. The Prophets searched what manner of time the Spirit of Christ in them did signify c. by which he preached to the Spirits in Prison II. Other Prophets pointed at Christ as the Scope of their Prophecies they testified before-hand the Sufferings of Christ and the Glory that was to follow III. Other Prophets did but begin the holy Books that were to be the perpetual Rule of Faith and Practice they told us of Divine Things but in part IV. Other Prophets spake of God by private Inspiration and the Intelligence of Angels and few of them confirmed their Words by Miracles V. Other Prophets have left their Work and are all gone Your Fathers where are they And the Prophets do they live for ever What Man is he that liveth and shall not see Death Abraham is dead and the Prophets c. Disparity I. JEsus Christ received not the holy Spirit by measure but hath the Fulness of the Godhead dwelling bodily in him For in him dwelleth all the Fulness of the Godhead bodily II. Jesus Christ came as the Sum of their Prophecies to fulfill them and compleat what they foretold This is He of whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets did write III. Jesus Christ did finish and compleat the holy Books which are to be the perfect and compleat Rule of Faith and Practice to the end of the World He shewed plainly of the Father He is that Prophet that all Men are to hear upon the Penalty of being destroyed from amongst the People He that hears not his Voice and believes not his Gospel shall not see Life but perish in his Sins How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation confirmed by Signs and Wonders IV. But Jesus Christ spake of the Father as he had seen Him and conversed with Him heard his Words and was in his Bosom before He came down among us in the likeness of Man and confirmed his Doctrine by many immediate and mighty Miracles No Man has seen God at any time but the only begotten Son that is in the Bosom of the Father he hath declared him The things that I have heard of him I speak unto you If I had not done amongst them the Works which none other Man did they had not had Sin but now they have both seen and hated both me and my Father V. Jesus Christ abides in his Prophetical Office still that is of like continuance with his Kingly and Priestly Office as he abides a Priest continually so a Prophet He is with his Church to lead it and guide it to the end of the World as himself saith And lo I am with you always even to the end of the World Inferences I. WE may infer from hence That God hath been exceeding good
was to have hands laid upon the Head this was a Sign of Death XII The Head is the Subject of Humility When Men have been much affected with some great Thing they put Earth upon their Heads XIII But notwithstanding all the Head is the Glory of the Man XIV The Head sheweth the greatest Signs of Pity and Sympathy to the poor distressed and afflicted Members XV. The Head is the governing Part of the whole Man the Eyes the Ears the Hands the Feet are all governed by the Head XVI The Head loves the Body that belongs to it and is concerned night and day for its Prosperity XVII The Head receiveth Reverence and Respect Love and Honour from the Body and the Members Parallel I. THe Son of God as he was higher by Birth than Men yea than the greatest of Men Kings and mighty Potentates of the Earth c. so is he by Place and Office God hath anointed him with the Oil of Gladness above all his Fellows and set him over the Works of his Hands II. The Son of God the mystical or spiritual Head is the Seat of the spiritual Senses There is the clear seeing Eye the perfect hearing Ear the pure true and infallible Taste by which Things are distinguished aright the good from the bad for the benefit of the whole Body the Church III. Jesus Christ as a publick Person and Head of his Church is Receiver-General and common Treasury of the whole Body Whatsoever came originally from God for the Good and Benefit of the Church is lodged in Christ as Mediator and Head of his Church As David said All my Springs are in thee so may the Church say of Christ We beheld his Glory as the Glory of the only begotten Son of God full of Grace and Truth It pleased the Father that in him should all Fulness dwell IV. The Son of God doth transmit or cause to be transmitted by way of communication all the Supplies of the Mystical Body whether it be Peace of Conscience Ease for Soul-pains by an Application of his Blood and Spirit to comfort 'T is by Him that the whole Body by Joints and Bonds have Nourishment administred one to another as knit together in all parts and increasing with the Increase of God Of his Fulness we all receive and Grace for Grace V. The Son of God is the Fountain of Strength to his Church 't is said All Power is given to him I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me VI. Jesus Christ was a Man of Labour that carried our Burthens for us in Divine respects The Burthen of Temptations from Satan and the World fell upon him the Burthen of Persecution even to Death it self The Lord laid on him the Iniquities of us all VII The Lord Jesus was a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with Grief There was no Sorrow like his it was heaped upon him even to perfection VIII The Lord Jesus is the Man of God's Right-hand made strong for Himself upon whom the Blessing is conferred by the Father as a Token of Good to the whole Church In Him all the Families of the Earth are blessed IX Christ the holy and spiritual Head received the Consecration of God for he was filled with the Holy-Ghost from the Womb and as a perfect Nazarite continued separate till his Baptism at which time the holy Anointing being upon him in a visible manner did furnish him for his Ministry and fit him to be a Priest unto God this holy Unction descended on him as it did on the Head of Aaron not only drenching his Beard but all the parts of his Body also even to the Skirts of his Garment Say ye of him whom the Father sanctifieth and sendeth into the World c. Who through the eternal Spirit offered himself to God X. The Son of God not only beareth the Glory of Priesthood but the highest Glory of his Father's House which consists of Kingship c. Thou art a Priest for ever c. We see Jesus made a little lower than the Angels c. crowned with Glory and Honour XI Christ was the principal Object of Envy and Hatred The Devil envied him the Jews hated him without cause Herod threatned him One while they waited to kill him at another time they led him to the Brow of the Hill that they might cast him down headlong to destroy him At last they came and laid their hands upon him in the Garden where he received the Sign of Death after his most bitter Agony and was soon after offered up on the Cross as a publick Sacrifice He died for our Sins according to the Scriptures Christ our Passeover is sacrificed for us XII The Lord Jesus was a Subject of great Humility much affected with God's Providences and Mens Wickednesses He wept when Lazarus died Christ wept when the Jews rejected him to their own Destruction and as Publius Lettius saith of him he was never seen to laugh but often to weep The Devil Herod Pontius Pilate with the Jews were not content to persecute and drive the Son of God to Corners but after they had agreed with Judas to betray him they endeavoured as much as lay in them to take this blessed Head off from his Mystical Body nothing would satisfy them till they had slain the Lord of Life and Glory XIII And so is Jesus Christ the Glory of God the Glory of the Church She glories in Him His Head is as the most fine Gold He is altogether lovely This is my Beloved and this is my Friend O Daughters of Jerusalem XIV Christ being in all things like unto us Sin only excepted hath shewed no small Signs of Pity and Sympathy as one touched with our Infirmities as appears both before he left the World and since 1. He comforts them by good Words and Promises he will not leave them comfortless but will come to them 2. He assureth that he would send another Comforter the holy Spirit 3. He prays the Father to take them into his Care and Protection 4. He cries out from Heaven when Violence is offered to them Saul Saul why persecutest thou me c. XV. The Son of God as Head of the Church hath the Government on his Shoulders his Members hear his Voice and keep his Commandments and his Commandments are not grievous unto them XVI Jesus Christ loves his Church yea all his Members He died to save and redeem them he shed his Blood to wash and sprinkle them and went to Heaven to prepare a Place for them and is concerned both night and day for their Prosperity and Welfare he will come again from thence to solemnize the glorious Marriage and receive them unto himself that where he is there they may be also I love them that love me He gave himself that he might redeem us from all Iniquity He hath loved us and washed us from our Sins with his own Blood
that find Christ have enough they need no more Riches they are not only made happy here but also to Eternity and may say with Jacob they have all XI Christ is the Saints richest Ornament Those that are grac'd and adorn'd with this Pearl are the most renowned and honourable Ones in the World The Righteous are more excellent than their Neighbours XII There is no Cordial to a disconsolate and drooping Spirit like Christ the Virtue of his Blood and the Comforts of his Spirit revive immediatly the sick and fainting Soul 'T is he that keeps us from the Poyson and venemous Sting of the old Serpent that strengthens us and purges out all our Corruptions XIII Christ is singular there is but one Christ one Mediator between God and Man Metaphor I. PEarls are of an earthly Original II. Pearls are of a very small dimension for tho they be very considerable in value yet are the least of all precious Stones III. Men may find a rich and precious Pearl and yet be miserable in divers respects and that cannot help them IV. Men that find precious Pearls may sell them if they please and sin not nor injure themselves thereby V. Other Pearls are of a perishing Nature they may be defaced broken dissolved and come to nothing Disparity I. JEsus Christ is the Lord from Heaven II. Christ is infinite in respect of his Deity without measure filling Heaven and Earth with his Presence He is in Heaven and yet with his People on Earth to the end of the World III. He that finds this Pearl of great Price can never be miserable Christ supplies all the Wants and Necessities of Believers IV. No Man can sell Christ nor part with him but he sins thereby and ruins himself as Judas did V. Christ is durable this Pearl of Price can never be spoiled or dissolved nor diminish or lose his Beauty Inferences 1. Happy are they that find this Pearl 2. They are Fools who will not adventure the Loss of all for Him 3. Esteem highly of Christ you can never overvalue Him 4. Bless God for bestowing his chiefest and best Pearl upon you The Name of Christ like to Precious Ointment Cant. 1.3 Thy Name is as Ointment poured forth c. THe Spouse knows not how to set out the Transcendent Excellencies of the Lord Jesus Christ. Before she saith His Love is better than Wine and here she compares his Name to Ointment poured forth c. The Words are a Proposition in which you have two Parts 1. The Subject 2. The Predicate 1. By the Name of Christ some understand the Doctrine of Christ declared in the Gospel others by his Name his Person Illyricus in locum Ye shall be hated of all Nations for my Name-sake I will shew him how great things he shall suffer for my Name that is for my Sake 2. Christ hath several sweet Names or Appellations given him in the Holy Scripture that may be compared to Precious Ointment as first his Name Jesus Emanuel the Lord our Righteousness Prince of Peace c. Simile I. OIntment is of a fragrant and odoriferous Scent Precious Ointment yields a very sweet Smell the Box of Ointment which was poured upon Christ the Text says the whole House was fill'd with the Odour thereof II. Ointment hath an exhilarating Virtue it chears elevates and makes the Heart glad Ointment and Perfume rejoyce the Heart hence the Antients in their Banquetings and joyful Feastings used choice and precious Ointments III. Oil hath a drawing and cleansing Quality in it it is powerful in attracting or drawing Pollution or noxious Matter out of Wounds or Sores in the Body IV. Ointment hath a mollifying and suppling Virtue it will soften any hard Tumor or Swelling in the Body the Lord alludes to this They have not been mollified with Ointment V. Ointment is of a beautifying Nature David tells us it makes the Face to shine Naturalists says there is a sort of Ointment that will fetch out Wrinkles VI. Some Ointments are of great Worth and Value as appears not only by Historians but by what is said of that Box Mary bestowed upon our blessed Saviour VII Ointments are of a healing Nature VIII Some Ointments are of a strengthening Nature the Joynts being weak and benum'd or parts of the Body anointed therewith it recovers their Strength IX Ointment being poured forth denotes the use of it 't is of little Profit whilst it is kept close shut up in the Box nor doth it yield that fragrant Smell till poured forth X. Ointment poured forth denotes Plenty as one observes upon the place as also a free Communication of it Parallel I. THe Lord Jesus is very sweet and of a fragrant Smell to Believers as hath been shewed upon divers Metaphors nay he makes their Persons Prayers and all their Performances as sweet Odours in the Nostrils of God Christ perfumes as it were all Persons and Places where he cometh the Person Example Passion Intercession Word Promises Ordinances of Christ are of a sweet Savour II. Jesus Christ and the Spirit that flows or proceeds from him is of a glading refreshing and comforting Nature he anoints his Saints gives the Sorrowful the Oil of Gladness for the Spirit of Heaviness Thou hast put Gladness in my Heart more than in the time when their Corn and their Wine increased III. Christ draws the Soul when his Name is poured out so that the Soul feels the nature of his Sovereign Love and Grace out of the World and the Kingdom of Satan and from all Uncleanness of the Heart and Life to himself Saith Christ And if I be lifted up from the Earth I will draw all Men unto me With loving Kindness have I drawn thee Draw me and I will run after thee Christ draws the Soul from Sin and Sin from the Soul and so cleanseth it thereby IV. Christ's Name poured forth viz. his Perfections and Excellencies made known to a Sinner presently softens his hard Adamant-like Heart all the Hearts of Sinners that have been broken and made tender it hath been done by the Virtue of this precious mollifying Ointment V. This Spiritual Ointment will fetch out all the Stains and Spots of Sin all those Blemishes and Wrinkles of the Soul of which the Apostle speaks that so we may be presented amiable in the sight of God Believers have no Beauty but what they have from Christ. VI. The Lord Jesus Christ is of an inestimable Worth who is able to account the value of this Box of precious Ointment Wisdom is the principal thing Christ is the Wisdome of God its price is above Rubies VII Christ heales the Soul he is not only the Physician but his Blood and the precious Graces of his Spirit is the Balm or Ointment that cures all our Sores VIII All Spiritual Strength is from Christ 't is he only that confirms and strengthens the Feebleness and the Hands that hang
VII The Apostles were to take care of the Church whilst they lived and after their Decease Paul had the Care of all the Churches upon him He sent for the Elders and gave them charge c. St. Peter took care that after his Decease the Churches might be secured from Danger VIII The Apostles had a Dispensation committed to them from which they were not to depart A Dispensation of the Gospel is committed to me Wo is me if I preach not the Gospel They also ordained other Ministers IX The Apostles went through good and evil Report unweariedly till they had finished their Course and then committed themselves to Him that judgeth righteously in expectation of a Crown of endless Glory Henceforth is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness c. Parallel I. CHrist Jesus was immediatly sent by God He came not of himself but the Father sent him II. Christ Jesus went about preaching the Gospel doing Good and healing all that were oppressed III. Christ Jesus was not alone but the Father was with him God was with him in an extraordinary manner beyond what he ever was with any Mortal IV. Christ as the great and chief Apostle bore witness to the Truth For this cause came I into the World â—â— V. The Lord Jesus came as the chief Apostle to open Mysteries that had been kept hid VI. Christ Jesus had not the Spirit by measure but was filled with the Spirit to do and speak mighty things VII Christ more especially took care of his Church before he left them He forewarned them of Evils to come he cautioned them against Fears and Apostacies and committed them to the Care of his Father Keep through thy Name those that thou hast given me VIII Jesus Christ as the great Apostle had a Dispensation committed to him The Work that my Father gives me to do shall I not do it I must work the Works of God Tell that Fox I do Miracles this day to morrow and the third day I shall be perfected He had Power also to ordain other Officers and Ministers IX Christ suffered great Contradiction of Sinners against Himself fought as the Captain of our Salvation with all Difficulties and Enemies till he had finished his Work and could say Father it is finished into thy hands I commend my Spirit He for the Joy that was set before him endured the Cross despised the Shame and is sate down at the right hand of God An Apostle I. THe Apostles were but meer Men whose Original was from the Dust. II. The Apostles had but small measure of the Spirit and were not without Sin and Infirmities III. The Apostles were but Fellow-Servants and not Lords over God's Heritage not like some we have had since their Time IV. The Apostles did but shew and direct to a Saviour to Salvation and eternal Life they were not able to save nor could they give Salvation to any Was Paul crucified for you c. Disparity I. CHrist was Emanuel the eternal Son of God God vâ—â—ry God of God Lord of all whose Descent was from Heaven I came down from Heaven The second Man was the Lord from Heaven II. Christ had the Fulness of the Divine Spirit dwelt in him and rested upon him God gave not the Spirit to him by measure Through the eternal Spirit he offered himself to God without spot The Prince of this World came and found nothing in him He was holy harmless and undefiled separate from Sinners III. But Christ is Master Head Lord Ruler and Governor a compleat Prince and King as well as Priest and Prophet and Apostle He is Lord of all over all God blessed for evermore Which made Mary say They have taken away my Lord and Thomas say My Lord and my God IV. But Christ did more than shew and direct to a Saviour He was that Saviour himself and the Author of eternal Salvation to all them that obey him He had Help laid upon him being mighty to save was born a Saviour To you is born in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. And that great Salvation is not to be neglected without eminent Danger How shall we escape that neglect so great Salvation Inferences I. BEhold the great Goodness of God to the Church and World that he should send so great an Apostle so wise an Ambassador to treat with Souls and for Souls and to settle govern and establish the Church II. What great Love Christ had to Sinners that he should leave his Riches and Glory above to come down to be an Apostle a Fellow-Servant for our sakes He that was rich became poor that we through his Poverty might be made rich III. What need have we of the Pope and his Cardinals seeing God hath been so kind to give us Christ to be our Apostle and High-Priest We own none but Christ to be the Apostle and High-Priest of our Profession who can do all things for us by his Word Spirit and Ministers Away therefore with that grand Antichrist and vile Impostor whom they call His Holiness with all his Antichristian Crew IV. This may serve to inform us that we ought to listen to him and be taught by him for there is great reason for it 1. God sent him I came not of my self the Father sent me 2. He spake so as never Man spake No Man ever yet nor ever will speak like the Man Christ Jesus He spake like one that had Authority and not like the Scribes learned Doctors and wise Men among the Jews Many were astonished at his Understanding and Answers in his tender Age. 3. God commands us to hear him This is my beloved Son hear him 4. God threatens us if we do not hear him 't is dangerous to refuse to hear him How shall we escape if we turn away from him that speaks from Heaven Christ the Bread of Life John 6.48 50 51. I am the Bread of Life This is the Bread which cometh down from Heaven I am the living Bread which came down from Heaven IT is not my Business here to give the various Opinions of Men touching the Bread in the Text Some hold it to be Christ's Doctrine others Christ in the Sacrament others hold it is Christ in a more invisible Administration but to shew metaphorically that whatsoever Bread properly so called is to Men considered as Men that Jesus Christ is unto Believers and all true Christians according to the Gospel Metaphor I. BRead is prepared and made fit for Food II. Bread is a Substance well suited for the Subject to which it is appointed III. Bread is good in it self and of its own nature IV. Bread is not inherent in us but a distinct thing from us and a Gift from another V. Bread is ordained to an high and most excellent End even to preserve the whole
Smoak perfumed with Myrrh and Frankincense with all the Powders of the Merchant We read of the sweet Scent of the Church but how comes she to smell so rarely but from the Communication of the sweet Graces of Christ to her Sinners are very unsavoury until this Myrrh-Tree has dropp'd upon them II. Christ is the richest and purest Perfume Heaven and Earth can afford none so sweet How fragrant is he in the Nostrils of God the Father He even ravishes the Senses of Angels and Saints makes us and all our Duties as sweet Odours unto the Father III. Christ hath in him a preserving Quality or Power were it not for that Life he has communicated to us and the rest of Mortals how soon would our Bodies rot But in a special manner he preserves our Souls Sin is of a rotting stinking and putrifying Nature compared to a Leprosy and filthy Sores now if Christ did not drop daily a little of his Myrrh I mean the Grace of his Spirit into our Souls how loathsom should we soon become IV. Jesus Christ makes every Believer beautiful they have no Comeliness but what he has put upon them 'T is he that makes their Faces to shine who takes away every Spot and Wrinkle and presents them a perfect Beauty in the Father's sight by imputing and imparting of Righteousness unto them through Faith V. Christ the true Christ of God is not easily known to the ignorant many take a false Christ for the true Christ. Some are so blind that they think the Light which is in every Man the Light of natural Conscience is the Christ of God and Saviour of the World VI. Jesus Christ hath many medicinal Virtues By his Stripes we are healed He dries up all evil and offensive Rheums makes Prayer the Breath or Breathings of the Soul savoury clears the â—â—oice and helps our Infirmities by which â—â—eans we pray more elegantly and fervenâ—â—y in the Spirit takes away all Impediments so that our Prayers are heard and accepted by the Father VII The Spirit of Christ and Graces thereof are compared to Oil He is the Myrrh-Tree from whence the Divine Oil flows wherewith the Ministers and Saints of God are more or less anointed See Oil of Gladness 1. In Christ is abundance of Divine Sweetness not a Sprig or two but a great Bundle not two or three Grains but a Bag filled with it or a Bundle of heavenly Myrrh 2. Whatever is good in Christ is laid up safe Believers may waste or lose much of the Grace of Christ in them but none of that which is bound up in this sacred Bundle can be lost METAPHOR I. MYrrh has some Dregs in it tho never so purely refined II. Other Myrrh may be bought for Money III. Other Myrrh will lose its Virtue if kept over-long IV. The Myrrh-Tree doth not always drop this Gum distills but at certain Seasons of the Year Disparity I. IN Christ is no Dregs no Sin nothing but what is invaluably precious II. All the Riches of both the Indies can't purchase one drain of this Divine Myrrh III. Christ's Virtue is ever the same IV. Christ the spiritual Myrrh-Tree is always dropping Application 1. CHrist is a precious Jesus and saving Grace worth the prizing 't is like to sweet-smelling Myrrh 2. What a Mercy is it to have our spiritual Senses so exercised as to discern between things that differ 3. What Eyes do they see with that despise and slight Jesus Christ This Bundle of Myrrh this Rose of Sharon this Lilly of the Vallies is not so much regarded by the most of Men as a Bundle of Thorns and Briars 4. You that love a sweet Smell here is a precious Perfume for your unsavoury Souls Notwithstanding all your rare Gums Odors and fragrant Flowers Spices and choice Powders you will smell ranck and unsavoury in the Nostrils of God if you have not this Bundle of Myrrh to perfume your Souls and Services 5. If Believers receive all their Graces and Sweetness from Christ let them make grateful Acknowledgments thereof to Him Christ the Saints Wedding-Garment Mat. 22.11 12. And he said unto him Friend how camest thou hither not having a Wedding-Garment c. THIS Text is part of the Parable of the Marriage Mat. 22. And the Word Parable is thus expounded by Jerome Tom. 3. Epist. 51. ad Algasiam q. 6. p. 359. Parabola hoe est Similitudo quae ab eo vocatur quod alteri 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hoc est assimilatur quasi umbra praevia Veritatis est A Parable that is a Similitude so called because it is like another thing and is as it were a previous shadow of Truth The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is derived of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to compare or liken it answers to the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mashal In the New Testament it signifies an Enigmatical or Allegorical Comparison c. For further account the Reader is referred to the Place where we treat of Parables The Phrase 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Wedding-Garment is borrowed from a custom among the Ancients where every Guest at that Solemnity was arrayed in a Habit peculiar only to such Feasts and such as wanted it were accounted Intruders viz. such as without any Right thrust themselves in Now in this Parable all Orthodox Expositors affirm that by the King ver 2. we are to understand JEHOVAH by his Son the Messiah by his Servants the Ministers of the Gospel by such that found pretences of Absence worldly-minded Persons that prefer their temporal Pleasures before Grace and true Religion by the Invitation of the Guests the calling of the Gentiles c. by him that wanted the Wedding-Garment Hypocrites or such as have not put on Christ spiritually that is are not clothed with his Righteousness by Faith whose doom is damnation ver 13. All the best Expositors agree by the Wedding-Garment is intended Christ's Righteousness or Imputed Righteousness which is put on the Soul by Faith for Justification For the further demonstration hereof see the following Parallel METAPHOR I. THe use and necessity of Garments came in by the Fall Adam in Innocency had no need of them II. Garments are to cover Nakedness that Shame and Deformity may not appear to others for this reason did our first Parents sew Fig-leaves together to cover themselves and from hence God afterwards made them Coats of Skins c. III. Garments differ much in Worth and Excellency we read in Scripture of filthy Garments and likewise of glorious Apparel IV. Garments are for Ornament they set off natural Excellency making Men and Women appear very lovely and amiable in the eyes of others V. Garments are of great Utility in respect of Defence they secure us from many Hurts and Dangers which naked ones are exposed to they are Munimenta Corporis they are as light Armor to the Body in the Winter they save the Body from peircing Cold
its Article in the Greek No Man cometh to the Father but by me Christ is the Way wherein the Truth whereby and the Life whereunto we walk Christ is the Way without Error the Truth without Falshood and the Life without Death Truth lies between Way and Life as if the Way to Life were through Truth 3. Christ is all with the Father I know thou hearest me always Christ hath God's Ear at all times He is the Object of the Father's Delight This is my beloved Son in whom I acquiesce so the Greek It is an emphatical Word and signifieth an infinite Affection 17. Christ is all in all in respect of Merit He hath merited all for us and conveys all to us As we have all propter Christum so we receive all we have per Christum through Christ. He is not only the Fountain but the Medium or Conduit-Pipe 18. Christ is all in all or the Sum of the whole Gospel all the Good here or the promised Good we shall receive hereafter is through him he is virtually every thing unto us in every Condition 1. Art thou sick Christ is thy Physician and thy Physick too 2. Art thou poor Christ is thy Riches 3. Art thou weary Christ is thy Rest I will give you Rest. 4. Art thou in Trouble Christ is thy Peace This Man shall be our Peace when the Assyrian comes into our Land 5. Art thou a Stranger He is thy Way and the End of thy Journey 6. Art thou despised and contemned by Men Christ is thy Honour To you that believe he is precious in the Greek He is an Honour Quest. Who is he that makes Christ his All Answ. 1. He makes Christ his All that owns him believes in him obeys worships and adores him as God over all Rom. â—â— 5 2. He that loves him above all 3. He that denies himself of and forsakes all for Jesus Christ's sake and follows him 4. He that aims at Christ and exalts him in all he is hath doth or undergoeth Yea doubtless I account all things but Loss for the excellency of the Knowledg of Jesus Christ my Lord for whom I have suffered the Loss of all things and do account them but Dung that I may win Christ. 5. He makes Christ his all that wholly lives by him for him and to him 6. He makes Christ his all who cannot be satisfied with any thing this World affords or can afford without him 7. The Man that makes Christ his all will not take any of his Right and Honour from him he will not diminish his Glory or ascribe that to the Creature which belongs to Christ. 8. He that makes Christ his all will not be contented in any Ordinance or Duty if he have not his influencing quickning and comforting Presence 9. He makes Christ his all who when it comes in competition will let all go even his own Life before he will part with him 10. He that makes Christ his all likes and loves him in all He loves not the Saints chiefly because they are of his Opinion in every thing but for that of Christ he sees in them 11. He makes Christ his all that longs above all things to be like him and to have his Image implanted in his Heart Quest. Why doth a true Christian make Christ his All 1. Because he is God over all it were a Sin thus to exalt him were he not God 2. Because he hath a Name given him above all above every Name At the Name of Jesus every Knee shall bow c. 3. Because Christ hath suffered and done all those things for us which we should have done and suffered 4. Because a Believer sees himself unable to do any thing without him 5. Because he is made of God all in all things to them 6. Because nothing is of any worth in a Saint's eye without Christ. 7. Because in having Christ he hath all Application IS Christ all then this reproves them that esteem of any thing here in this World above him 1. It reproves such as esteem the Pleasures Honours and Profits of the World above him 2. It reproves and may eternally shame them that esteem of their Sins and base Hellish Lusts more than him Many will adventure the Loss of Christ rather than forego their evil Courses 3. It reproves them that esteem and exalt Christ in some things only he is not all in all to them 4. How then doth it reprove them that make Christ nothing at all who wholly cast him away and build their Hopes of Salvation upon another Foundation Secondly Be advised from hence whosoever thou art to make Jesus Christ thy All. Motives 1. Thou hast nothing that will stand thee in any stead till Christ be thy all 2. If thou hast not Christ to be thy all thy Knowledg and Profession of him will not prove to be worth any thing at last 3. If thou hast not Christ for thy all when Death comes what will become of that thou hast Thou wilt then have nothing Quest. How shall a Person come to have Christ to be his All Answ. 1. He must let all his Sins 〈◊〉 2. He must let all Consultings with Flesh and Blood go 3. He must let all his own Righteousness go so as not to rest and depend upon it for Salvation Thirdly This affords much Comfort to the Godly 1. Is Christ thy All Thou hast a great All what can there be more Thou mayest say with Jacob I have enough the word is all 2. Thou canst never lose thy All because thou canst not lose thy Christ. 3. Thou canst never be undone tho thou losest all thou hast in this World for Christ's sake because to thee Christ is All and in All. THE Third HEAD OF Metaphors Allegories and Similes With other borrowed Terms Respecting the HOLY SPIRIT OR THE Third Person of the Blessed Trinity The Holy-Ghost a Comforter John 14.16 And I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever Vers. 26. But the Comforter which is the Holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my Name he shall teach you all things c. THE Comforter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 oâ—â— the Advocate He shall give you another Comforter The Word Paracleâ—â— in the Greek comes from a Word of a large Signification and consequently may be rendred Advocaâ—â—e Exhorter or Comforter METAPHOR A Comforter implies one or more to be in Trouble and Disâ—â—ress or attended with Sorrow and Affliction A Man that is not in any Trouble stands not in need of a Comforter II. It implies or holds forth that those who are troubled and in a sorrowful condition are capable of Relief and Succour III. Comforter is a Name or Appellation belonging to a Person or a personal Appellation IV. A choice and true Comforter takes care to come unto a Person he loveth at the greatest time of need when he is most cast down and
discomforted Thus the Jews came to Mary to comfort her when they heard that her Brother Lazarus was dead and Job's Friends when he was in the depth of Sorrow came to comfort him V. A Comforter imports a Person able and willing to comfort and relieve such as are in a sorrowful mournful and afflicted condition VI. A faithful Comforter manifesteth much Love and Tenderness to his oppressed and afflicted Friend particularly 1. In coming to him 2. In supplying the Want he sustains of those things he is deprived of VII A wise Comforter uses many and weighty Arguments to infuse Comfort into a distressed and disconsolate Soul 't is not enough to come and give a bare Visit and look upon a Friend but to take apt and suitable Words and Motives to do it VIII A Comforter sympathizes with him he comes to visit to comfort him in his Grief and Trouble Job's Friends lifted up their Voice and wept and they rent every one his Mantle and sprinkled Dust upon their Heads So they sat down with him upon the Ground seven days and seven nights c. IX A true Comforter will intercede to others to administer support and relief in whose power it is to succor as well as himself X. A true Comforter will search into a Persons State and Condition to know how it is with him that thereby he may the better understand how to speak a word of Comfort to him XI A Comforter sometimes is slighted by the Person or Persons he comes to visit and administers Succor unto and all his good and sweet Advice is not regarded for a time XII A Comforter many times keeps his Friends from utter despondency and wonderfully revives and consolates his Soul and thereby makes Sighing and Heaviness to fly away The moving of my Lips should asswage your Grief c. XIII A faithful and true Comforter will not only give his distressed and disconsolate Friend a Visit but if he sees there is need of it will make his Abode even stay with him many days Job's Friends did so XIV A good faithful Comforter is highly esteemed and greatly beloved by his Friend especially when the worth of him is known or he is sensible of the Profit and much good rejected by him XV. A faithful Comforter will deal plainly with his Friend and not speak Peace and Comfort when he knows there is not just and good reason so to do but will reprove sometimes also if he finds cause for it Parallel THe Saints and People of God are in this World attended with manifold Troubles Afflictions and Sorrows Many are the Afflictions of the Righteous for all the day long have I been plagued and chastened every morning Verily verily I say unto you that ye shall weep and lament but the World shall rejoyce and ye shall be sorrowful but your Sorrow shall be turned into Joy II. The Disciples of Christ tho they mourn here or are in a sorrowful State upon many considerations yet they are capable of Comfort and fit Subjects of it They are not such as uâ—â—terly refuse or are unaâ—â—e to receive Relief and Comfort Such as have committed the unpardonable Sin or are already in Hell are uncapable of receiving true Peace and Comfort but so it is not with God's People Whatever their State and Condition is it admits of Relief tho through Satan's Temptations they are sometimes backward to take hold of it III. The holy Spirit is a Divine Person he is placed in the same Rank and Order without any Note of Difference or Distinction as to a distinct Interest in the Divine Nature with the other Divine Persons Baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy-Ghost There are three that bear Record in Heaven the Father the Son and the Spirit and these three are one 2. He hath also the Names proper to a Divine Person only for he is called God Why hast thou lied unto the Holy-Ghost Thou hast not lied unto Man but unto God 3. He hath personal Propertieâ—â— assigned him viz. a Will He divideth to every Man severally as he will and an Understanding The Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God 4. He is voluntary Author of Divine Properties he of old cherished the Creation he formed and garnished the Heavens he inspired acted and spake in and by the Apostles 5. The same regard is to be had to him in Faith Worship and Obedience as unto the Persons of the Father and the Son for our being baptized in his Name is our solemn Engagement to believe in him yield obedience to him and worship him as it puts the same Obligation upon us to the Father and Son IV. So the holy Spirit comes unto a gracious Person in the time of greatest Need when he is most dejected and discomforted whether it be under Temptation Affliction or Persecution for Christ's sake Hence the Apostle saith When we came into Macedonia our Flesh had no Rest but we were troubled on every side without were Fightings and within were Fears Nevertheless God that comforteth those that are cast down comforted us c. I will not leave you comfortless I will come unto you V. The holy Spirit is able and willing at all times to comfort sincere Christians in their Afflictions Such is the Power Ability and Efficacy of the Spirit upon this account thâ—â—t 't is more câ—â—pable and able to comfort Believers than the bare bodily Presence of the Lord Jesâ—â— is able to do Nevertheless I tell you the Truth it is expedient for you that I go away pray mind the Reason our Saviour gives of it For if I go not the Comforter will not come unto you but if I depart I will send him VI. The holy Spirit doth manifest much Love and Tenderness to Believers which appears 1. In his coming to them that are poor and contemptible in the eyes of the World 2. By making up the Want of Christ's bodily Presence 3. In bearing Repulses from them how often hath the Spirit been slighted and his Motions rejected instead of being friendly entertained when in Love he comes to them VII The Holy Spirit doth not only come and give poor Believers a bare Visit in their Distresses but also uses fit and suitable ways and means to comfort and support their Souls He shall bring all things unto your Remembrance that I have spoken unto you He shall take of mine and shall shâ—â—w it unto you and he shall shew you things to come c. The Spirit usually comforteth Believers in and under their Sorrows and Afflictions 1. By shewing them whatsoever Christ hath done and suffered for them 2. By opening and applying the gracious Promises of Christ unto them he shall bring whatsoever I have said to your Remembrance 3. By sealing up Christ's Love unto them As many as I love I rebuke and chasten 'T is no sign they are hated by Christ or
and Opposition are broken in pieces by it When it once blows briskly upon the Soul it presently cries out Lord what wouldest thou have me to do Immediatly saith Saul I conferred not with Flesh and Blood XII The Spirit dissolving the Clouds of Iniquity waters the Heart with Tears of Repentance and Godly Sorrow XIII The Blowings or Operations of the holy Spirit ought carefully to be observed with the access and recess thereof for a Christian can make no Earnest of the Duties of Religion unless these Winds blow Moreover there are certain Signs whereby a Man may know which way the Spirit blows 1. If the Desires of the Soul are after God and Holiness it is one sign the Wind is in a right Point 2. If the Understanding be enlightned and Clouds of Ignorance scattered the Affections changed so that heavenly Objects are principally delighted in if the Will is brought to yield and readily to submit to the Will of God the Spirit blows the right way 3. If a Man leaves his old and evil Courses and Company if that which was once pleasant to him is now become grievous to him if his Discourse be savoury and his Life holy you may know which way the Wind blows They that are after the Spirit do mind the things of the Spirit 4. If there be new Habits wrought in the Soul so that altho a Man may sometimes be obstructed in his way and hindred in his course Heaven-ward yet immediatly as it were by a natural or divine Instinct he falls into his former Way and Course of Grace and Holiness again 't is a sign which way the Wind blows You know the Wind is sometimes obstructed or stopped in its usual course by Houses or Trees c. so that you can hardly discern by Vanes or Smoak c. which way it is so it may be with a Christian. Besides sometimes you can scarcely perceive any Wind to blow at all no more can you the Operations of the Spirit XIV The Spirit of God blowing upon the Soul of a Sinner causes his Pride and external Glory to fade away which is compared to the Flower of the Field The Rod hath blossomed Pride hath budded All Flesh is Grass and the Goodliness thereof is as the Flower of the Field The Grass withereth the Flower fadeth because the Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it XV. The holy Spirit tho it be invisible and its Operations mysterious and not to be discern'd by many Men yet they may see and hear the Effects of it they may perceive what Alteration and Changes it makes in this and that Man such as were very vicious and ungodly are by the Workings of the Spirit formed into another likeness and become pious and truly religious that Tongue that was wont to blaspheme God they now hear to praise and admire him c. And Believers themselves clearly feel and experience the blessed Effects and Operations thereof in their own Souls XVI The Spirit of God causes the Saints to grow in Grace and in the Knowledg of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Spirit moves upon the Affections and every other Faculty of the Heart and by that means causes the Seed of Grace to take the deeper Root The Ground or Spirit of a Christian must be broken and loosened from the World and from the Love of sensual things more and more by the Wind of the Spirit or he will not be fruitful in Grace and good Works XVII Unless the Spirit blows upon the Soul or upon the Church they lie becalmed and cannot sail towards the Haven of eternal Happiness no Duty or Service performed in publick or private can avail any thing we get not a Bit of Ground nor any real Advantage by them unless they are performed by the Help and Influence of the Spirit God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth XVIII The holy Spirit winnows and fans God's People who are compared to Wheat and good Grain 'T is said of Christ His Fan is in his Hand and he will throughly purge his Floor How doth Christ fan and purge his People but by his Word and Spirit 't is that which cleanses and makes them pure from the Dross and Pollutions of Sin and Wickedness as the Apostle observes 1 Cor. 6.11 XIX The Spirit of God sometimes comes on a sudden upon a Soul and by its powerful Operation in a short space makes a great and wonderful Change as appears in the Case of Saul but at other times it riseth and worketh upon some Mens Hearts gradually XX. The holy Spirit when it gets into the Heart of a Man by its powerful Operation it makes him tremble and shakes him to pieces as it were causing strange tho glorious Workings in the inward Man This he doth by setting the Evil of Sin before his Eyes and his woful Condition thereby A Man never trembles as he should till the Spirit enters into him Saul was taken with such a trembling when the Spirit entred into him and began to work that he could not stand upon his Feet METAPHOR SOme Winds are sent in Judgment to destroy and overthrow which many times blow down Houses and Trees and make great Desolation witness that prodigious Wind in the Year 1661. II. Some Winds are of a blasting Nature and cause the Fruit to fall before it be ripe III. There hath been a Wind in which the Lord hath not appeared IV. Some Winds are compared to Words and Speeches of one that is desperate V. Sometimes Wind is made use of to set forth that which is vain and empty VI. Some Winds are without Rain Whoso boasteth himself of a false Gift is like Clouds and Wind without Water VII If some Winds be observed Men must not plow nor sow their Seed He that observeth the Wind shall not sow and he that regardeth the Clouds shall not reap VIII Man's Iniquity is compared unto the Wind. Disparity BUt the Spirit being the great Promise of the Father and the Fruit and Effect of Christ's Ascension is sent in Mercy to strengthen and establish and is so far from destroying or overthrowing as that it causeth the Church in general or a Christian in particular to take the more firm Root and stand the faster II. But the Spirit as compared to the North and South Winds ripeneth a Christian in Grace and causeth the Spices thereof to flow forth Grace ripeneth and fitteth for Glory III. But there is no greater Demonstration of the Lord's presence with his People or with a Soul than by the Indwelling of his Spirit Where two or three are gathered together in my Name there am I saith Christ. IV. But no Man speaking by the Spirit calleth Jesus accursed Men are by the Spirit brought into their right Minds witness the Prodigal V. But where-ever the holy Scriptures make mention of the holy Spirit it is to set forth
cause a Man to vomit it up by unfeigned Repentance by which means the Life of the Soul is preserved for if by the Operation of the Spirit Sin is not vomited up Death will certainly follow Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish Luk. 13.3 For the Flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the Flesh and these are contrary the one to the other Gal. 5.17 IV. The Spirit of God will never mingle nor become one with the Flesh the Spirit is from above and ever endeavours to be uppermost in what Heart soever it is 't will not be under the command of Sin nor Satan Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfil the Lusts of the Flesh. V. The Spirit wonderfully revives comforteth and infuseth Spiritual Warmth and Heat into the Soul of a Believer when he is anointed with it and indeed nothing else will refresh enliven and warm the inward Man hence 't is compared to Fire and called the Spirit of Life and blessed Comforter VI. the Spirit cannot be dried up by the heat of Persecution nor the scorching beams of Satan's Temptations that will live and abide the same in the Souls of sincere Converts losing none of its gracious Influences and Operations And I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that shall abide with you for ever Joh. 14.16 See Comforter VII The Spirit cleareth the Eyes of the Understanding 't is call'd Eye-salve and from hence the Apostle prayeth for the Ephesians That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of Glory would grant them the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the Knowledg of him That the Eyes of their Vnderstanding being enlightned they might know what was the hope of his calling c. Clouds and Mists of Darkness are upon the Eyes of all that have not received the Spirit so that they cannot behold things a far off VIII The Spirit of God is the only Remedy for all Obstructions of the inward Man those that scarce breath or pray at all by receiving a measure of the Spirit breath out freely their desire to Almighty God Likewise the Spirit helpeth our Infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit maketh Intercession c. No Man can say Jesus is Lord but by the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 12.3 IX The Spirit feeds the Soul yea it makes it fat and well liking nothing nourishes comparable to the Spirit the Word and Ordnances of God are but dry Bread to it this is the chief of those fat things full of Marrow by which God feasts and makes fat the Bones of his Saints X. The Spirit of God being received and lived upon the Abundance of the things of this World that have in them by means of Sin some hurtful and surfeiting Quality are made hereby very good and profitable to Believers but for want of the Spirit 's seasoning and sanctifying they become deadly and destructive to wicked Men their Table Bed and all they enjoy are made Snares to them Take heed to your selves lest at any time your Hearts be over-charged with surfeiting and Drunkenness and the Cares of this World c. Luk. 21.34 XI The Holy Spirit is of exceeding great use against all Tremblings and Convulsions of the Soul in evil Times it frees the Godly from all slavish Fears which shake some Men for want of it out of their Faith Honesty and Religion and it keeps sincere ones stedfast and imovable from being shaken by false Doctrine and lying Spirits which have troubled many with strange Convulsions Shakings and Tremblings in this Nation so that as my Author saith they have even foamed at the Mouth when Quakerism first came up amongst us XII The Holy Spirit is made use of by the Lord Jesus Christ our Heavenly High-Priest in cleansing the Leprosy of Sin he puts it into or upon every Faculty of the Inward Man the Will the Affection the Understanding the Conscience the Head the Hand the Heart the whole Soul is anointed therewith before it is pronounced clean by the Lord. I will put my Spirit within you and you shall be clean from all your Filthiness Now are you clean through the Word that I have spoken to you the Words that I have spoken to you they are the Spirit and the Life XIII The Spirit of God is that spiritual Oil that the Wise Virgins took in their Vessels and in their Lamps by which means they were accepted by the Bridegroom and the Foolish for want of it their Lamps of Profession went out and they not suffered to go into the Wedding-Chamber XIV The Holy Spirit hath an excellent beautifying Quality there is no scar spot nor deformity in the Soul but the Spirit can purge and cleanse it they that are anointed with this Oil shine in the Eyes of God and good Men 't will make a Blackmore white and beautifful fetches out those Wrinkles and foul-Staines and Spots that naturally are in the Souls of Men and Women it takes of Christ's Beauty and puts it upon the Soul and so places a shining Lustre upon the Inward Man Thy Beauty for it was perfect through my Comliness which I had put upon thee c. How glorious and beautiful to be hereby And all that sat in the Councel looking stedfastly on him saw his Face as did Stephen appear if it had been the Face of an Angel Acts 6.15 XV. There are some nay many Men in the World that love not like not the Spirit they are naturally so averse to it that they will not be perswaded to make trial of it they can't believe there is any Sweetness Benefit or Savour in it The Natural Man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are Foolishness unto him neither can be know them because they are spiritually discern'd 1 Cor. 2.14 XVI The Spirit is good to strengthen the weak and decayed Hands and Knees of a poor Saint and thereby makes the Soul more fit for Motion Godwards lively quick agile and fit for Heavenly Service XVII The Lord Jesus was anointed with the Spirit that Oil of Gladness above his Fellows Moreover every Minister of the Gospel must be anointed therewith or he is not accepted of God METAPHOR OTher Oil is of an earthly Extract and several sorts of it are prepared and made fit for use by the Art and Wisdom of Man being extracted from earthly things II. There is not one sort of Oil that hath all kind of excellent Qualities in it that which may be good to beautify and of a dulciferous Scent may not be medicinable III. Oil will not last long its Virtue is soon gone it quickly decays and becomes unsavoury Disparity THe Spirit is from above and without beginning Flowing from the Throne of God and the Lamb. But the Comforter even the Spirit of Truth which proceedeth from the Father he shall testify of
the Forehead c. And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the Grass of the Earth neither any green thing neither any Tree but only those Men which have not the Seal of God upon their Forehead IX The Spirit is oftimes counterfeited by Satan who transforms himself into an Angel of Light as do his Ministers as if they were the Ministers of Righteousness hence they pretend to Light Spirit and Holiness and beguile the ignorant and unwary Souls to their Eternal Ruine X. The Holy Spirit hath hid or seal'd up some things from some Men Bind up my Temstiony seal the Law amongst my Disciples Many things are hid from Saints themselves in dark and mysterious Prophecies in the Holy Scripture Seal up those things which the seven Thunders uttered c. Yet in due time those things shall be revealed and not only so but the Saints of God themselves by the Spirit are such a sealed and hidden People that but a very few can read and understand them though legible to be read of all the chosen and elect Seed and Heirs of Promise and in that great Day they shall be known by all the World METAPHOR A Seal among Men after a Bond or Covenant is sealed therewith may be defaced or broken and thereby the said Bond or Covenant may lose its Virtue Efficacy and not be deemed good and Authentick in Law II. A Seal among Men can make no Impression without a Hand or one to seal therewith III. A Seal is an Instrument made by the hand of some Artificer of earthly Matter or Substance and makes only a humane or external Impression IV. A Seal may be lost or grow old and defective and so make no perfect and clear Impression Disparity THe Holy Spirit having once made a gracious and glorious Impression in the Soul of a Man neither Devil nor any other Enemy can ever by all their Strength and Skill utterly deface tear or break it so as to make the Covenant of Grace to lose its Virtue and become of none Effect to the Soul hence Believers are said To be sealed to the day of Redemption II. The Spirit is not only the Seal but the Sealer he makes the Impression needing no other and also is the Seal by which the Impression is made III. The Spirit is an uncreated Being or an immortal Substance and makes a divine and heavenly Impression in the Mind or Soul of a Man or Woman which by the operation of God's Grace is made pliable and meet to receive it IV. The Spirit can never be lost grow old be wore out or become defective so that the Impression it now makes is the same in every respect with that it made five thousand Years ago Inferences FRom hence we may perceive by whom the Change or Difference is made which is in any Person Man is born in Sin and rather resembles Satan bears his Image than the Character and Likeness of God Almighty till the Holy Spirit stamps a new and heavenly Character upon them or infuses a spiritual Habit into him Who makes thee to differ from another or what hast thou which thou hast not received c. II. It may serve to stir every one up to examine their Hearts whether they have received the Impression of this Spiritual Seal as is the Seal such is the Impression it makes They that are after the Spirit mind the things of the Spirit But we all with open Face beholding as in a Glass the Glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from Glory to Glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. III. For further Trial take these few brief Notes following 1. Were your Hearts ever humbled in the sence of Sin broken in pieces melted made soft and pliable to receive the Seal The Heart of Man naturally is hard and obdurate and will not take this spiritual Impression 2. Did the Spirit ever set home and seal any Promise in particular or Promises in general upon your Hearts so that you can say with the Prophet David Lord remember the word unto thy Servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope Psal. 119.49 The Ephesians are said to be sealed with the Spirit of Promise Eph. 1.13 3. Are you formed into the Likeness and Image of the Spirit There is in that Soul that is sealed by the Spirit a certain Impression of Divine Light former Darkness flies away and the Eyes of the Understanding are enlightned the Soul sees an Excellency in God and in Jesus Christ a transcendent Beauty in divine Objects and values the Knowledg of Jesus Christ and him crucified above all the things in this World 4. Are you holy heavenly spiritual are there Principles of true Piety and Godliness wrought in you Do you love God because he is holy and love his Word because of the purity of it Do you breath and pant after a further Conformity and Likeness to him 5. Is thy Heart washed from its Filthiness If thou art not cleansed from thy former Wickedness and swinish Nature thou mayest assure thy self thou hast not the Spirit of God in thee thou art far from being sealed therewith 'T is by the virtue of those Promises that are imprinted upon the Soul by the Holy-Gost that a Man comes to cleanse himself from all Filthiness of the Flesh and Spirit and to perfect Holiness in the Fear of God 2 Cor. 7.1 6. Doth not thy Heart condemn thee for allowing thy self in any known Sin or for living in the continual neglect of any one known Duty The Spirit witnesseth with our Spirits that we are the Children of God Where it is a sealing Spirit it is a witnessing Spirit It compares the Heart and Life of a Man with the Rule of the Word and if the Bent and Stream of the Soul be Heaven-ward and his sincere Design is after God and to live to him in this World as well as to live with him in the World to come to be holy here as well as to be happy hereafter then the Spirit witnesses for him But if otherwise it witnesses against him and his own Spirit condemns him IV. Moreover this may inform sincere Christians to their unspeakable Joy how firm and sure the Covenant of Grace is to them They are sealed with the holy Spirit unto the Day of Redemption they are mark'd for Heaven and cannot lose their Title to the eternal Inheritance because they cannot lose the Seal of it As they have received the Earnest of it so they have the Witness and Seal of it that it might be every way firm and sure to them V. Let all who profess the Gospel and pretend to the Spirit strive to get this Seal 'T is not enough to read of the Covenant of God and to have some external knowledg of it and dispute about it but labour to get it sealed to you by the holy Spirit VI. If the Spirit be the Earnest and Seal of this blessed Inheritance
This spiritual River divides the Church from the World Believers from Unbelievers For who maketh thee to differ from another And what hast thou which thou didst not receive XVII After brokenness of Heart or a Multitude of unfeigned Tears and true Contrition of Soul how high do the Waters of the Spirit rise how doth Peace and Joy abound in the inward Man XVIII This spiritual River carries and bears up the weight of the whole Church which sails like a Ship along these Waters and every Saint notwithstanding all those heavy Weights of Sin and other unprofitable Burthens that are in and about them are sustained by these Divine Waters XIX The Spirit is a pure Stream as clear as Chrystal its Waters are sweet and savoury and wheresoever they come they cleanse and wash away all Corruption No Man's Heart tho it be never so much polluted and foul like a stinking Ditch yet if a small Stream or Branch of this River be let into it and hath a free Passage it will carry away all the Filth and Pollution thereof XX. The Waters of this River are exceeding good for the Soul to drink and nothing else can allay or satisfy the inward Thirst and Desire thereof METAPHOR ALL earthly and elementary Rivers have a beginning II. Other Rivers are fed by Springs or Fountains c. They have not their Waters from themselves a River is not the same Head or Original from whence it proceeds III. Other Rivers are subject to decay do not always run with the same Strength a dry Summer makes abatement of its Waters many Rivers have been quite dried up God threatned the Egyptians that he would deal so with the River Nilus IV. The Waters of natural Rivers only cleanse and wash the Body from external Filthiness V. Other Rivers may grow muddy foul and unsavoury the Water not good nor wholesom to drink of VI. Other Rivers may be lock'd up or turned another way 't is possible to turn the Chanel and Course thereof Many Rivers have been made to forsake their ancient Currents This goodly River which feeds London may be lock'd up and turn'd another way by an Enemy VII Other Rivers may be frozen up tho running Streams do not freeze so soon as standing Waters yet sometimes they freeze also VIII Other Rivers breed noxious Creatures of strange and different Qualities Creatures that will eat and devour one another IX The Length Breadth and Depth of other Rivers may be measured and are of a small dimension comparatively Disparity THis River the Spirit is from everlasting to everlasting without beginning and without ending II. This River the Spirit is a Fountain as well as a Stream tho it is said to proceed from God yet it is God himself But Peter said to Ananias Why hath Satan filled thine Heart to lie to the Holy-Ghost Thou hast not lied to Man but to God There are three that bear Record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy-Ghost and these Three are One. The Spirit of the Lord hath made me c. The Spirit knoweth all things sheweth us things to come is the Object of Divine Worship the Sin against the Spirit can never be forgiven From all which Instances it is evident that the Spirit is God See the Metaphor Light Book 3. pag. 22 23 24. III. This River the Spirit never decayeth it hath as much Water in it as ever it had 't is as broad as deep and as full now as it was at the beginning tho many Thousands have taken plentifully of it No Drought can abate its Chrystal Streams it is infinite in it self Tho God hath provided a Chanel of Ordinances to convey some of its Waters to his Chosen yet it cannot be circumscribed nor limited as 't is in it self IV. The Water of this River cleanseth the Soul and Conscience it washeth away all spiritual or internal Pollution and Uncleanness V. This spiritual River can never be foul'd nor made muddy nor be unsavoury 't is beyond the Power of Men or Devils to corrupt the Spirit of God VI. The River of the Spirit cannot be diverted or forced to leave its Chanel 'T is impossible to lock it up or turn its Course How can Men of finite Beings obstruct the infinite God in his ways and manner of working Whither shall I go from thy Spirit I will work and who shall let it VII This River can never be frozen The bleakest Wind the sharpest Air the coldest Season cannot change it These Divine Waters run as freely in the cold Winter as in the Heat of Summer they are of a very warming and comforting quality VIII This Spiritual River bringeth forth only Creatures of a harmless Quality All Believers so far as they are regenerated are the Production or Off-spring of the Spirit are of the same holy heavenly merciful and harmless Disposition IX This River is of great dimension Who by searching can find out God to Perfection His Length Breadth and Depth are past finding out The Spirit is incomprehensible an immense and infinite Being These Waters are like those spoken of by the Prophet Afterwards he measured a thousand Cubits and it was a River that I could not pass over for the Waters were risen Waters to swim in a River that no Man could pass over Inferences WE may perceive from hence the Excellency and Necessity of the holy Spirit He is much more useful and necessary to the Church than Rivers of Waters are to the World For our Hearts are naturally dry and parched like the Heath in the Wilderness and it is the Spirit that moistneth them our Hearts are hard and the Spirit mollifieth them they are naturally filthy and he washeth and cleanseth them yea our Hearts are barren and the Waters of this River make them fruitful II. It also sheweth us the Excellency of Ordinances which are as the Chanel in which the Waters of this River run or the Pipes through which these Streams are conveyed to the Soul III. Bless God for this River for his opening a free Passage through Jesus Christ for its flowing forth unto us and for causing us the People of England to live by the side of such a Chrystal Stream O what a happy Land is that which hath a River of Water of Life running through it IV. When you see profitable and delightful Streams think seriously of this sacred and heavenly River V. Let all be persuaded to come to this River Hoâ—â— every one that thirsteth come to the Waters c. Four Motives considerable 1. Consider have you not great need to have your Hearts purged and softned by this Spiritual River c. 2. There is no other River no other Way no other Fountain that can supply your Wants If you wash your selves with Snow-Water it will not do away your Filth if you could bathe your Souls in a River of Tears yet unless you are washed in Christ's Blood through the
rendered as a vile Hypocrite as Job was it doth clear him and makes his Heart light and how doth he prize and esteem of such a Friend Alas had not a Christian the Witness in himself to clear and bear up his Soul he would sink down many times into utter Despondency but this made holy Job to triumph over all his Enemies Behold my Witness is in Heaven and my Record is on high As much as if he should say though many Witnesses are against me yet I will keep my Conscience clear I will not have my own Heart to charge me or witness against me as long as I live VI. So the Holy Ghost gives in such clear Demonstration and Proof to the clearing up of a Man's Evidence for Heaven that when all Cases are clearly considered a poor Saint though doubtful before comes to a good and full Satisfaction therein God's Spirit and Conscience compares a Man's State with the Word of God and if upon Trial it appears that those Qualifications are wrought in his Heart that the Word expresly mentions concerning the Truth of Grace he then finds he hath no more cause to doubt of the goodness of his Condition VII So the Holy Spirit and Conscience bring off a Christian with abundance of holy Joy and Triumph notwithstanding his Case may seem very dangerous by means of strong Accusations of Satan as it was with Job For this is our rejoycing the Testimony of our Conscience that in Simplicity and godly Sincerity we have had our Conversation in the World c. VII So the Spirit or God confirms the Covenant of Grace to the Soul of a Believer for when the true Fear of God is wrought in the Heart the Spirit witnesseth to it and thereby assures us that all the Promises that are made therein are undoubtedly our own and shall be performed to us Inference HOw happy is the State of the Godly what good Assurance have they of Eternal Life they have received an Earnest of it it is sealed unto them and they have two infallible Witnesses to confirm it to them See Conscience a Witness The Holy-Spirit a Teacher Luke 12.12 For the Holy-Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say Joh. 14.26 But the Comforter which is the Holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my Name he shall teach you all things and bring all thing to your Remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you THe Holy Spirit is the great Teacher of the Church and every particular Saint and Member thereof unto whom the Accomplishment of that great Promise is committed And they shall be all taught of God Joh. 6.45 Teacher A Teacher is a personal Appellation II. A Teacher implieth one or more that needeth Instruction or Teaching it argues Weakness of Knowledg and want of Understanding in some Persons about such things they ought to be well instructed in III. It behoveth an able Teacher to have great Knowledg and Understanding himself in all those Things and Mysteries he instructeth others in IV. A spiritual and able Teacher openeth divers dark deep hidden and mysterious things to the Understandings of Men. V. A divine and able Teacher by this means greatly inlightneth the World and causeth Darkness and Ignorance to fly away inriching Men's Minds with the precious Knowledg of sacred Truths VI. An able Teacher instructeth ignorant Persons by degrees as they are able to take in conceive and apprehend things first to read the a b c and then the Bible and afterwards the Grammar or any other Things of Learning they desire to be instructed in VII Some Teachers teach their Scholars out of a Book their great Business is to help them rightly and distinctly to understand that VIII A Teacher exerciseth much Patience towards them whom he instructeth especially when he meets with such that are very dull and unapt to learn he is forc'd to take much Pains with them IX Some Teachers tho very deserving have been greatly slighted by those very Persons they have shewed much Love to and taken great Pains with for their good which hath sorely grieved them X. Some Teachers after they have found those whom they were imployed to teach and instruct grown to such a great degree of Stubborness and Obstinacy that they have utterly despised and refused to betaught by them and have cast all Counsel behind their Backs then they have left them and wholly given them up as hopeless Persons XI Godly Teachers are so great a Blessing to People that it is a great Loss to lose them nay a sore and lamentable Judgment upon the Church and the World to be deprived of or have their Tea-chers taken away from them or forc'd into a Corner Parallel THe Holy Ghost is a Divine Person See Comforter II. There is no Man whatsoever but needeth the Divine Teaching and Instruction of the Holy Ghost For what Man knoweth the things of a Man save the Spirit of a Man which is in him Even so the things of God knoweth no Man but the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 2.11 III. The Holy Ghost hath great Knowledg yea he is infinite in Understanding there is nothing that he is ignorant of that either concerns God's Honour or our Good The Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God IV. The Holy Ghost openeth many dark and deep Mysteries what hidden Mysteries did he reveal to the Prophets and open and unfold to the blessed Apostles Which in other Ages were not made known unto the Sons of Men as is now revealed unto the Apostles and Prophets by the Spirit V. The Holy Ghost inspiring and teaching the Prophets and Apostles who were the holy Pen-men of the sacred Scripture hath greatly inlightned the Inhabitants of the Earth where their Record is known and also when he hath opened the Eyes of the Understandings of Men in those profound and glorious Mysteries contained in the holy Scripture how are their minds inriched with the Knowledg of divine Truths VI. The Holy Ghost teacheth and instructeth poor Sinners gradually first the a b c of Religion viz. the Knowledg of Sin and their lost and undone Condition thereby the Vanities of this World together with the necessity of a Saviour and then in the second Place he instructeth them in higher Mysteries opening and explaining the Covenant of Grace as also the glorious Mystery of Union and Communion with God the Mystery of the Trinity the Incarnation of Christ his Priesthood and other things relating to him as Mediator together with many dark Sayings and Prophecies of the Scripture which those who are unlearned viz. who have not the Spirit 's teachings wrest unto their own Destruction I have many things to say unto you but ye cannot bear them now VII So the Holy Ghost teacheth Sinners the Knowledg of the Scriptures for as the Spirit gave them forth so he is the best Interpreter of them Then opened be their Vnderstandings that they might understand the
Scriptures He shall teach you all things and shall bring my Words to your Remembrance he shall take of mine and shew it unto you c. that is he shall open and explain my Word and Doctrine to you How ignorant are some Men of the Scriptures and of those glorious Mysteries contained therein notwithstanding all their humane Learning or that Knowledg they have of Hebrew Greek and Latine for want of the Spirit 's Teaching VIII So the Holy Ghost exerciseth much Patience towards Sinners whom he comes to teach and instruct in the way of Salvation Mankind being generally very dull and unapt to learn the Knowledg of themselves Sin Christ and Salvation therefore he drops now a Word and then a Word for their Conviction IX So many Men that the Holy Ghost hath shewed much Love unto and laboured greatly with have notwithstanding slighted and disregarded all his Counsel and Instruction like as Israel did of old Thou gavest them thy good Spirit to instruct them and withheld not thy Manna from their Mouth c. X. So the Holy Ghost who laboured to instruct the old World finding they were grown to a fearful degree of Hardness Rebellion and Obstinacy utterly refusing to return or be reformed after he had waited many Years upon them left them to perish in their Sins God declaring sometimes before the Flood came upon them That his Spirit should not always strive with Man and in like manner the Spirit deals with stubbâ—â—rn obstinate Sinners for after long-waiting and abused Patience he leaves them and gives them utterly up to their own Heart's Lust and to walk in their own Counsel XI The Holy Ghost is such a great Blessing to the Church and People of God nay and unto Sinners too that there can come no greater Judgment upon them than to be deprived of this sacred and heavenly Teacher tho it is sad with the Church When her Teachers are removed into a Corner and her Eyes see them not yet we had better lose all other Teachers and that utterly than lose this great Teacher only for tho he is pleased to make use of them he can teach effectually and savingly without them were they removed and taken away but they cannot teach without him unto the least spiritual Advantage and those who pretend to be Teachers of others and yet despise his Teaching-Assistance will once find they undertook a Work which was none of theirs Inferences IS the Holy Ghost the great Teacher how dare any then reproach and villify him or slight his Teaching or those who are lead and instructed by him 2. It may also stir up all Persons to a readiness and willingness of Heart and Mind to be taught and instructed by him Quest. How may we know say some the Spirit 's Teachings who are they that are taught and instructed by him Answ. This you may take as an undoubted Truth that The Spirit never teacheth any thing contrary to the written Word because so the World might be at a certainty about a good and true Teacher in matters of Religion the Spirit hath left us the holy Scripture and he always teacheth as that teacheth opening and explaining what dark and obscure things are contained therein so that he that walketh faithfully up to the written Word is lead and taught by the Spirit Quest. But doth not the Apostle say We have an Vnction from the holy One and know all things and need not that any Man teach us We need no other Teacher therefore but the Spirit Answ. That is a great Mistake and apparent wresting of the Text for the Spirit of God that holy Unction was in the Primitive Saints in a more glorious measure than he is in any now and yet Christ called forth and ordained divers other Teachers for them who were to build them up in their most holy Faith And the things saith Paul to Timothy that thou hast heard of me among many Witnesses the same commit thou to Faithful Men who shall be able to teach others also A Gospel-Ministry is to abide till Christ's second Coming they are appointed for the gathering together building up and perfecting of the Saints until we all come into the Vnity of the Faith and of the Knowledg of the Son of God unto a perfect Man c. Therefore the meaning of the Holy Ghost in that Place is this We need not that any Man teach us but as that Anointing teacheth if any Man teach us such and such things that are not written things that the Spirit never taught in the Word of God we ought not to hearken to them we need no Teaching but that which is according to the Spirit 's Teachings and agreeable to its Blessed Rule left upon Record viz. the Holy Scriptures of Truth The Holy-Spirit compared to a Dove Mat. 3.16 And he saw the Spirit of God descending like a Dove and lighted on him The Holy-Spirit is represented by a Dove or appeared in the shape of a Dove and may in some things be resembled thereto Simile A Dove is a Bodily Substance or hath a Subsistence of his own II As at the beginning of the Creation saith a Reverend Divine the Spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 incubabat came and fell on the Waters cherished the whole and communicating a prolifick and vivifick Quality unto it as a Fowl or Dove in particular gently moves it self upon its Eggs until with and by its generative Warmth it hath communicated vital Heat unto them III. A Dove is a meek harmless and innocent Creature Be ye as harmless as Doves IV. A Dove hath a quick sharp Sight or Eye as it is hinted Cant. 1.6 chap. 4.1 V. A Dove brought Tidings to Noah of the ceasing of the Flood of Waters and so consequently that the Wrath of God was abated likewise VI. A Dove is a most swift Creature hence David crys out O that I had the Wings of a Dove then would I fly away and be at rest Parallel SO the Holy Ghost hath a personal Existence It was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a bodily Shape and that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of a Dove II. So now saith he at the Entrance of the new Creation the Spirit comes as a Dove upon Christ who was the immediate Author of it and virtually comprized it in himself carrying it on by virtue of his Presence with him and so this is applyed in the Syriack Ritual of Baptism composed by Severinus And the Spirit of Holiness descended flying in the likeness of a Dove and rested upon him and moved on the Waters III. So the Holy Spirit is of a most sweet meek pure and Dove-like Disposition the Perfection of all excellent Qualities being in him as well as upon the Dove Christ as he was figured forth thereby IV. The Holy Spirit hath a quick and sharp Sight can discern the very Thoughts and Intents of the Heart what can be hid from his Eyes before whom all
things lie naked and bare V. So in the Assumption of this Form there may be some respect had to Noah's Dove signifying Peace and Reconciliation by Christ and the ceasing of the Wrath of God to all those who shall fly to the Lord Jesus and rest upon him by a lively Faith VI. The Holy Ghost is swift God is said to fly upon the Wings of the Wind the Spirit is God and the Flight of the Dove saith Reverend Blackwood denotes the divine Influence of the Spirit coming from Heaven into the Members of Christ as well as into the Head the Holy Ghost can quickly come to the Aid and Succour of a Believer when in Trouble or beset with Temptation or to strengthen him when he hath any great Work and Business to do for God That Spirit appeared like a Dove and yet the Learned tell us it was of a fiery Colour and we must not think this Substance saith Mr. Blackwood or Body resembled by a Dove to be hypostatically united to the Holy Spirit as the humane Nature of Christ is to the divine but as Angels appeared oft-times to Men in humane Bodies and laid them down again so did the Holy Ghost The Holy Spirit the Saints Guide Joh. 16.13 He will guide you into all Truth c. Rom. 8.14 As many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God The Spirit is the Saints Guide Guide A Guide is very necessary for Strangers in a Wilderness where there are many ways and turnings II. An eminent and able Guide is well skill'd in all ways and able to give Directions in the most difficult Cases that are very hard to find out III. A faithful Guide gives notice of all the Dangers that are in the way and shews also how a poor Travellor may escape them and so go safe unto his desired Place IV. An able Guide frees a Man that commits himself to his Guidance from many Cares and Fears that attend such who have lost their Way and have no Guide V. An able and faithful Guide gives plain and full Direction to the ignorant so that they cannot well miss the way if so be they exactly follow his Directions Parallel SO the Guidance of the Holy Spirit as it is contained in the Holy Scripture is necessary to Believers whilst they pass through the Wilderness of this World where one says this is the way and another that II. So the Holy Spirit is able to guide poor Sinners in all the ways of God he led Moses and the Prophets under the Law and led the Apostles and all the Primitive Christians under the Gospel-Ministration Holy Men of God spake as they were moved and guided by the Holy Spirit There is no Precept nor Promise of God needful for the Children of Men to be instructed in but the Spirit in the holy Scripture hath left it upon Record for our Direction and Consolation and whatsoever is hard to be understood that is contained therein The Spirit that searcheth all things can open and explain it to a gracious Soul the Spirit guides in the way of Morality in the way of Faith and Gospel-Obedience in the way of Church-Constitution and Discipline and in Gospel-Holiness and Conversation III. The Holy Spirit hath in the Holy Scripture for in that is contained all the Directions of the Spirit touching all matters and cases necessary to alvation given notice to all Spiritual Travellors of all the Dangers that may attend them in the way to Heaven First the Danger of Unregeneracy the common Road that most Men and Women walk in the Spiritâ—â— hath told us positively if we go in that way we shall perish for ever Except a Man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God Secondly The great Danger of the way of Presumption Thirdly The Danger of Despair Fourthly The Danger of Idolatry Heresy and Error Fifthly The Danger of Disobedience to Christ's Commands Acts 3.22.23 Sixthly The Danger of loving or liking of any one Sin Seventhly The Danger of Hypocrisy Eighthly The Danger of Apostacy c. IV. So the Holy Spirit frees a poor Saint from many Fears and Cares which attend others whilst he wholly commits himself to the Guidance of God's Word and to the Directions of the Spirit many are at a loss and know not what to do nor which way to go whilst he rests satisfied resolving to go wholly by this Guide V. So the Holy Spirit in the Scripture of Truth hath given such plain and clear Directions in all Cases of moment about Faith and Holiness that the ignorant and unlearned cannot miss the way to Heaven if they carefully observe the Rules laid down therein Guide OTher Guides tho very skilful and have good Knowledg of a way or matter they undertake to guide Men in may notwithstanding in some things miss being not infallible cannot give infallible Demonstrations to all doubtful Persons that they are right and that those who follow their Directions shall never go astray Disparity BUT the Holy Spirit in such a glorious manner by many Signs and Wonders so confirmed the way to Heaven as they are recorded in the Holy Scripture that those that follow his Counsel shall not go astray he is an infallible Guide and never imposed any Rules Laws or Precepts upon Men but left such convincing Evidence of the Truth of his Testimony that there remains no just ground for a Doubt or Objection as might be shewed in respect of the giving forth both of the Law and Gospel therefore those who pretend they are led by the Spirit or Inspiration and yet cannot prove and demonstrate what they say to be true by such ways and means that no Deceiver can pretend unto or do the like c. lie and abuse the Holy Ghost who is a certain and infallible Guide Inferences BLess God for this Spiritual Guide in matters of Faith and Practice and that there are such sure Rules left by him in the written Word What should we have done had God never afforded us such a Teacher and Guide as the Holy Ghost is 1. For Man naturally is blind I will lead the Blind in ways they knew not c. 2. There are many By-ways and were there not one sure and perfect Guide how could a Man find his way It is as easy for one Man to say he is led by the Spirit and Inspiration as it is for another and how shall a Man were it not for the Word know which of them is in the right 3. Some pretend they are led by the Spirit and they walk quite contrary to the Scripture which contains all the Truth of God necessary to be known believed and practised in order to Salvation He shall guide you into all Truth he shall bring my Word to your Remembrance Quest. How shall we know who follows the Spirit 's Guidance Answ. Art thou led to repent to leave thy Sins to believe in Christ to obey his Commands to
and powerful sharper than any two-edged Sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of the joints and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and Intents of the heart 'T is a hard matter for a Man tho' never so wicked to shut out or Prevent the Light of Gods Word from darting into and piercing of his Evil and accusing Conscience 3. The Word and blessed Gospel of Christ is so Great a Light that it makes wonderful Discoveries to the Children of Men. 1. It makes Manifest not only that there is a God but also what a God he is Not only his Being but also his manner of Being 2. It Discovers the Creation of the World 3. The State of Man before he fell and after his Fall 4. The horrid nature of Sin 5. The secret Counsel and Eternal Love of God to lost Man together with the severity of God towards the fallen Angels 6. It makes known the Lord Jesus Christ and his Blessed Design in coming into the World his Incarnation Nativity Life Death Resurrection Ascension and Intercession c. 7. It Discovers how God is to be Worshipped all his Laws Ordinances and Institutions are revealed by it 8. It discovers the True Church which otherwise cannot be known 9. Lastly It makes manifest whatsoever is needful or necessary to be known believed or practiced in order to Salvation 4. The VVord of God Directs and Guides Men in the Right way Hence David saith Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet and a light unto my pathes God is Gracious to mankind in this respect viz. he leaves them not at an uncertainty without an infallible Guide in matters of Religion Take away this Unâ—â—erring Rule and what confusion would the Christian VVorld be in one Man might say this is the way and another that I walk saith one by the Guidance of the Spirit and so saith another that teacheth quite Contrary things Saith a third you are both out of the way 't is I alone that am led by Inspiration and ye are in Darkness Others plead for the Pope and General Counsels which have been miserably Contradictory one to another and none of these can Give better Demonstrations touching the truth of what they Preach or Practice then the Rest being not able to Confirm their Doctrine by Miracles and so consequently how shall a poor doubtful Soul be directed in the way to heaven by either or any of them For were not the holy Scriptures the Rule but Contrariwise the Light within or Inspiration c. then must a Man be able to Confirm and Prove what he sayeth in such a way or by such means that no Deceiver or Impostor can pretend unto or do the like But is not the Spirit of God above the Scriptures which you call the VVord did not the Spirit give forth the Scriptures if so sure then that is of the Greatest Authority and only Light that can best Direct men Into the right way That the holy Spirit or third Person of the holy Trinity is a Greater Light then the holy Scripture is not Denied by vertue of which holy men of old were Inspired that gave them forth yet the Question is VVhether any Man now hath such a measure of the Spirit in him which is a greater Light than the written word and to whom others are bound to adhere and be directed by for 't is this only which is Denied 5. The word and Gospel of Christ hath a Chearing and Quickning Vertue This is my comfort in my affliction thy word hath Quickened me And in another place I will never forget thy precepts for with them thou hast Quickend me As 't is grevious to be Spiritually blind or in the Dark Region and Dungeon of Idolatry Sin and Unbelief so on the other hand how comfortable is it to enjoy the blessed word and Gospel of Jesus Christ. 6. The VVord and Gospel of Christ hath a Cleansing Purging and purifying Vertue in it Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way by taking heed thereto according to thy word Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you The Gospel and word of God Disperseth and Scattereth all the Fogs and Mists of Darkness and Error It is the refining-pot of Truth VVhat an unwholsome Pesthouse would the VVorld be in a Spiritual Sence were it not for the Light and Excellent Vertue of Gods holy VVord 7. The VVord and Gospel of God is very pure and of an undefilable Nature what filthy sinks hath it past through and what means hath been used by the Popish Adversaries and others to Corrupt and Polute it and yet no defilement cleaveth to it it remaines unmixed and pure still shining forth Gloriously such is the Excellent nature of it it purifieth the hearts and lives of men and nothing can fasten upon it to polute it 8. The VVord and Gospel of Christ is called by the Apostle The Glorious Gospel the Gospel is exceeding full of Glory There is nothing in it but that which is very Glorious Here you have a Resplendency and Shining forth of the Sun of Righteousness Gloria quasi clara saith Aquinas because Glory is the bright shining forth of Excellency now its transcendent Excellency and Splendor shines forth as may be demonstrated many wayes 1. It s Glorious in Respect of the Author and Fountain from whence it proceeds 2. 'T is Glorious in a Comparative sence 3. 'T is Glorious in respect of it Self First As light is Glorious because it is the most Excellent Rayes Resplendency and Shinings forth of the Sun so is the Gospel because 't is the glorious shining forth and resplendency of Jesus Christ the Sun of Righteousness Secondly 'T is glorious in a comparative sence it Excells the Law hence called a better Testiment tho' that was glorious yet it had no glory in this respect by Reason of the glory that Excelleth I. The Gospel excels the Law in respect of the names of the one and the names of the other 1. The Law is called the Letter the Gospel the Ministration of the Spirit 2. The Law is called a Ministration of death the Gospel a Ministrator of life II. The gospel excels in glory above the law 1. In regard of the light and perspicuity of it the law was full of obscurity clothed with many Ceremonies and mysterious Sacrifices 2. They were at a great loss touching the main drift and end thereof 2 Cor. 3.13 God spake as it were under a Vail III. The gospel is clear and plain Christ beheld heard handled c. the Mysteries long hid open'd and explained fully we behold with open face c. IV. The law was appointed to be but a leading Ministration and in subserviency to the gospel our Schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. V. The gospel more glorious or excels the law in respect of the strength of the one and weakness of
diversities of operations but it is the same God which worketh all in all 2 Cor. 13.14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Love of God and communion of the holy Spirit be with you all Acts 20.28 Take heed to the Flock over which the holy Ghost hath made you Overseers Mat. 12.31 All manner of Sin and Blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men but the blasphemy against the holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men Psal. 139.7 Whether shall I go from thy Spirit Joh. 14.26 But the Comforter which is the holy Ghost whom the father will send in my name he shall teach you all things Luke 12.12 The holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what you ought to say Acts 13.3 And as they ministred to the Lord and fasted the holy Ghost said separate me Barnabas and Paul for the work whereunto I have called them Ver. 4. They being sent forth by the holy spirit departed c. 'T is evident upon consideration that there is not any thing which we believe concerning the holy Ghost but that it is plainly revealed and declared in these Testimonies He is directly called God Act. 5.3 which the Socinians will not say is by vertue of an exaltation unto an Office or Authority as they say of the Son that he is an Intelligent voluntary Divine Person he knoweth he worketh as he will which things if in their frequent repetition they are not sufficient to evince an Intelligent Agent a Personal subsistance that hath Being Life Will We must confess that the Scripture was written on purpose to lead us into mistakes and misapprehensions of that we are under penalty of eternal Ruine rightly to apprehend and believe It declareth also that he is the Author worker of all sorts of Divine operations requiring Immensity Omnipotency Omnisciency and all other Divine excellencies unto their working and effecting Moreover it is revealed that he is peculiarly to be believed in and may be sinned against Also that he together with the Father and the Son created the World the spirit of God hath made me that he is the Author of all grace in Believers and order in the Churches The sum is that the holy Ghost is a Divine Distinct Person and neither meerly the power or vertue of God nor any created Spirit whatsoever This plainly appears from what is Revealed concerning him for he who is placed in the same series or order with Divine Persons without the least note of difference or distinction from them as to an Interest in Personality who hath the names proper to a Divine Person only and is frequently and directly called by them who also hath Personal Properties and is the Voluntary Author of Personal Divine Properties and the proper Object of Divine VVorship he is a Distinct Divine Person And if these things be not a sufficient Evidence and Demonstration of a Divine Intelligent Substance I shall as was said before despair to understand any thing that is expressed and declared by words But now thus 't is with the Holy spirit according to the Revelation made thereof in the word and gospel of God One Consideration which hath in part been before proposed I shall premise to free the subject of our Argument from ambiguity And this is that this word or name Spirit is used sometimes to denote the Spirit of God himself and sometimes his gifts and graces the Effects of his operation on the Souls of men and this our Adversaries in this cause are forced to confess and thereon in all their writings distinguish between the holy spirit and his Effects This alone being supposed I say it is impossible to prove the Father to be a Person or the Son to be so both which are not acknowledged any other way than we may and do prove the holy Ghost to be so For he to whom all Personal Properties Attributes Adjuncts Acts and Operations are ascribed and unto whom they do belong and to whom nothing is or can be truly and properly ascribed but what may and doth belong unto a Person he is a Person and him are we taught to believe so to be So know we the Father to be a Person as also the Son For our knowledge of things is more by their properties and operations then by their Essential forms especially is this so with respect to the Nature Being and Existence of God which are in themselves absolutely incomprehensible Now I shall not confirm the Assumption of this Argument with reference unto the holy Ghost from this or that particular Testimony nor from the assignation of any single Personal property unto him but from the constant uniform tenor of the Scriptures in ascribing all those properties unto him And we may add hereunto that things are so ordered in the wisdom of God that there is no personal property that may be found in an Infinite Divine Nature but it is in one place or other ascribed unto him First He is placed in the same rank and order without any note of Difference or Distinction as to a distinct Interest in the Divine Nature that is as we shall see personality with other Divine Persons Mat. 28.19 Baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Ghost 1 Joh 5.7 There be three that bear witness in Heaven the Father the Son and the Spirit and these three are one 1 Cor. 12.3 4 5 6. No man can say the Lord Jesus Christ is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost Now there are diversities of gifts but the same Spirit and there are differences of administrations but the same Lord and there are diversities of operation but it is the same God which worketh all in all Neither doth a denial of his Divine Being and distinct Existence leave any tolerable sence unto these expressions For read the words of the first place from the Mind of the Socinians and see what it is can be gathered from them Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the vertue or efficacy of the Father Can any thing be more absonant from Faith and Reason than this absurd expression and yet is it the direct sence if it be any that those Men put upon the words To joyn a quality with acknowledged Persons and that in such things and cases as wherein they are proposed under a Personal Consideration is a strange kind of Mystery and the like may be manifested concerning the other places Secondly He also hath the Names proper to a Divine Person only For he is expresly called God Act. 5. He who is termed the holy Ghost ver 3. and the Spirit of the Lord ver 9. is called also God ver 4. Now this is the name of a Divine Person on one account or other The Socinians would not allow Christ to be called God were he not a Divine Person though not by Nature yet by Office and Authority And I suppose they will not find out an Office
Obedience in our Conversion to God be not the effect of his Grace in us he doth not work in us both to will and to do of his own good pleasure 1. The work of Conversion it self and in especial the act of Believing or Faith it self is expresly said to be of God to be wrought in us by him to be freely given unto us from him the Scriptures saith not that God gives us ability or power to believe only Namely such a power as we may make use of if we will or do otherwise but Faith and Conversion themselves are said to be the work and effect of God But it maybe Objected that every thing which is actually accomplished in potentia before There must therefore be in us a power to Believe before we do so actually The Act of God working Faith in us is a creating work for we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus And he that is in Christ is a new Creature now the Effects of creating acts are not in potentia any where but in the active Power of God so was the World it self before its actual existence This is termed potentia logica which is no more but a Negation of any Contradiction to existence not potentia physica which includes a disposition unto actual existence Notwithstanding therefore all these preparatory works of the Spirit of God which we allow in this matter there is not by them wrought in the Mind and Wills of men such a next power as they call it as should enable them to believe without further actual grace working Faith it self Wherefore with respect to believing the first act of God is to work in us to will So Phil. 1.13 he worketh in us to will This God worketh in us by that grace which Austin and other Learned men call gratia operans 2. Faith and Repentance 'T is said to be given of God Him hath God exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour to give Repentance unto Israel and remission of sin to you it is given in behalf of Christ not only to believe but to suffer for his sake By Grace ye are saved through faith and that not of your selves it is gift of God Our own ability be it what it will however assisted and excited and Gods gift are contra-distinguished If it be of our selves it is not the gift of God if it be the gift of God it is not of our selves and the manner how God bestows this gift upon us is declared ver 10. For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good work And from hence Faith is called the Faith of the operation of God 3. Love that precious prevailing Grace is planted in the Soul by the Spirit causing the Soul with Delight and Complacency to cleave unto God and his wayes the Lord God will Circumcise thine heart to love the Lord Deut. 30.6 Hope maketh not ashamed because the Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghost Rom. 5.5 The fruit of the spirit is love Gal. 5.22 4. It might be further demonstrated by considering how Conversion with the manner how it is effected is set forth in the holy Scripture The Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart and the heart of thy seed to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart c. What is this but the putting off the Body of Sin Col. 2.11 This is the mediate work of the Spirit of God no man ever Circumcised his own heart A new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you and will take away the stony heart that is that impotency and enmity which is in our hearts unto Conversion 5. The work of grace upon the Soul is called a vivisication we are by nature dead in Sins and Trespasses in our Deliverance from thence we are said to be quickened The Dead shall hear the voice of the son of God and Live being made alive now no such work can be wrought in us but by an Effectual Communication of a Principle of Spiritual Life and nothing else will deliver us Some think to evade the power of this Argument by saying that all these Expressions are metaphorical and arguing from them are but fulsome Metaphors And 't is well if the whole Gospel be not a Metaphor unto them But if there be not an Impotency in us by nature unto all Acts of spiritual Life like that which is in a Dead man unto acts of Life natural if there be not an alike Power of God required unto our deliverance from that Condition and the working in us a Principle of spiritual Obedience as is required unto the Raising of him that is dead they may as well say that the Scripture speaks not truly as that it speaks metaphorically 6. Believers are said to be begotten and born again of the Spirit by which it appears that our Regeneration is not an Act of our own I mean not so our own as by outward helps and assistance to be educed out of the Principles of our nature Of his own will begot he us by the word of truth c. Born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible c. Which were born not of blood nor of the will of man but of God This being so it behoveth them who plead for Active Interest of the will of Man in Regeneration to produce some Testimonies of Scripture where it is assigned unto it as the Effect unto its proper Cause where is it said that a man is born again or begotten anew by himself and if it be granted as it must be so unless violence be offered not only to the Scripture but Reason and common sence that whatever be our Duty and Power herein yet these Expressions must denote an Act of God and not ours Regeneration being thus proved to be the glorious working and operation of the holy Ghost we shall now proceed to shew further the nature and excellency of grace as it shines forth in the gospel and is experienced by every sincere Christian. 1. Gospel grace is glorious because when received in Truth it delivers the Soul from Bondage it breaks the bonds For the Soul is not set at liberty by the bare shedding of Christs blood without the application of it by the spirit or infusion of grace into the heart 2. The gospel through the grace of it when received in Truth opens blind Eyes it makes them see that never saw in a spiritual sence before it opens their eyes that were born blind how blind was Saul till the gospel grace shone upon him or rather in him 3. The gospel through the grace of it when received in Truth raises the dead Soul to Life 'T is hereby we come to be quickened the flesh profiteth nothing 't is the Spirit that quickeneth that is the Humane nature without the Divine cannot accomplish Salvation for us nor shall any Soul receive any saving
shall mention is Reconciliation which is a glorious blessing what is more fully opened and held forth in the gospel than Reconciliation with the means and manner how and by whom accomplished which will appear 1. By Considering the parties Reconciled 2. By Considering the Nature of the breach that was between them 3. By Considering the means and manner how it is accomplished 4. By Considering the Fruits and Effects of it 1. Considering the Parties that were at Variance who by the gospel are Reconciled God and Man the infinite God the holy God and Man these were at Enmity 't is sad when a difference rises in a Family in a Congregation in a City in a Kingdom or between one Kingdom and another but much more sad is it to have God and sinners at Enmity Adam runs from God hides himself he knew God was now become his Enemy the word declares the Creature to be Gods Enemy whilst he stands in old Adam in the state of nature and you that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your minds c. And then God declares himself to be the Sinners enemy he is angry with the wicked every day he is said to fight and war against them which plainly shews he is their Enemy But now what a glorious blessing is this to have these two Parties reconciled when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son You that were enemies in your minds by wicked works or as in the Margent by your minds in wicked works yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through Death Secondly Gospel reconciliation appears to be glorious reconciliation if we consider the nature of the breach that was between them 1. It was an old breach no sooner was man made but straitway he became an Enemy to God nay every Soul that comes into the world comes into it an enemy of God or in a state of enmity 2. 'T is so great a breach that all the Angels in heaven nor all the Saints on earth could not make up 3. It was such a breach that lays the Soul obnoxious to Gods fearful Curse 4. It is such a breach that makes the Creatures of God at enmity one with another and Mankind in danger of being Devoured by them and also hath set man one against another 5. It is such a breach that sets man against himself it hath caused his own Conscience to be his Enemy and to accuse and fight against him and condemn him If our Hearts condemn us God is greater c. 6. It is such a breach that unless made up will produce an eternal Separation from God depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devils and his Angels c. Thirdly 'T is glorious Reconciliation if we consider the means and manner how and by whom it is wrought about and accomplished every Person in the glorious Trinity hath a hand in it and are eminently concerned about it God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself All things are of God who hath reconciled us unto himself by Jesus Christ c. The Lord Jesus the second Person is imployed we may see from hence as one fitly qualified to make up this dreadful Breach and in order thereunto he took our Nature on him There was a necessity of Christs coming to reconcile God and man God his Law and Justice was wronged and God was resolved to have this wrong made up and his Justice satisfied which none but Christ could do God was willing to be reconciled yet nevertheless he will wherein he was wronged be righted and have his Justice fully and compleatly satisfied Christ knew what would appease and satisfie both Law and Justice what he hath done hath infinite worth and efficacy in it this way tends most to glorifie God the Father the Son is glorified most this way the Spirit is glorified most this way and there was no way like this to melt the Sinners heart to abase him and lay him at the feet of God See Christ the Mediator c. 2. Christ doth not only reconcile God to the Creature but also reconciles the Creature unto God he undertakes to bring God near to Man and Man near to God whose heart is full of Sin and Enmity to his Maker and not subject to his Law he lays his hands upon both the first is done by his death Christ like Jonas is cast into the Sea as it were of wrath to make a Calm The second is done by the Spirit he breaks the heart changes the inward qualities and evil dispositions he takes away the heart of stone and gives a heart of flesh Fourthly Gospel Reconciliation is glorious in respect to the nature of it 1. It is a free Reconciliation it is a work of free grace alone it is not of man not of him that willeth or him that runneth but of God that shewed mercy Hence the Apostle saith All things are of God speaking of Reconciliation 2. It is mysterious Reconciliation we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world begun to our glory the Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God This is one of those deep things which many because they cannot comprehend it in their own natural Wisdom cavil against it 3. It is a certain reconciliation God is at Peace and fully Reconciled in Jesus Christ Christ shall not will not loss his glorious design in coming into the world and taking our nature on him and dying the cursed death of the Cross. Those therefore that are brought to accept of the terms of Peace and Reconciliation as offered in the Gospel stand in a state of Real Peace and Friendship neither let any once imagine that after all these glorious transactions of the blessed Trinity about this work that the issue of the whole in order to the making of it effectual depends upon the Will and power of man 4. The Soul is taken into perfect Love and Union with God God hereby intirely loveth us and is so for us or on our side that his Friends and Allies become our Friends and Allies and all our Enemies become his Enemies so that what is done to us he takes as done to himself 5. It is an honourable Reconciliation it is a Reconciliation upon honourable Terms God suffereth not in any of his glorious Attributes If God had passed by our offences so that we had Pardon and Reconciliation without more adoe without a compensation for sin the Devils perhaps saith a Divine might have cryed out against him and have said where is the Glory of thy justice these have sinned against thee as well as we and the breach they have made upon thy justice is no wayes made up but now their mouths are stopt for ever This Reconciliation will be to the glory of God in the sight of Angels and Men to
so to be and cry mightily that he would be pleased never to take it away from this poor Nation nor suffer its Glory and Brightness to be Eclipsed by letting in Popish darkness again amongst us If we once lose the Gospel we may all cry Ichabod the glory is departed from England and with the Church of Old say the Crown is fallen from our heads wo to us that we have sinned But some may say why doth Satan endeavour to hide the Gospel 1. It is because he is such an implacable Enemy to Mankind he cannot endure the light himself and he would not such is his hatred to us have the light of the Gospel shine upon us 2. Because of that Malice he bears to the Lord Jesus he would fain keep men ignorant of a Saviour Not only out of hatred to man but also out of implacable enmity to the Lord Christ that so he may as much as ly's in him hinder our Saviours chief design and intention in coming into the VVorld which was to bring men out of Darkness into the Light 3. Because he knows whilst he can keep men ignorant of the Gospel he hath them fast enough what Profession soever they make of Religion tho' they hear read pray give Almes nay and in many things reform their lives yet if they see not the way of Salvation as it is revealed in the Gospel he matters it not they still remain his Captives 4. Because it is hereby his Kingdom is like to faâ—â— 't is the light of the Gospel that tends to the utter overthrow and ruine of the Kingdom of darkness What wonderful things hath the Gospel done in the World and what Power is there in it by the help of the Holy Spirit to dis-Throne Satan and break all his Chains to pieces therefore he bestirs himself to hinder the breaking out of Light and Knowledg in every Nation and causes fierce opposition to be made against those who endeavour to sup-plant him and lay open his grand designs This informs us how it comes about there is so much Ignorance and gross Darkness in the World not only in Popish Countreys but also where the Gospel is Preached Though Men hear it Preached every day yet O how Blind and Ignorant are many Sinners Men rest satisfied with the bare notion of Things and Name of Christians never minding Religion in good earnest but in a most fearful manner are grown so fool-hardy and venturous as to hazard and expose their Souls unto eternal ruine The Devil hath blinded their minds this also shews us from whence it is there are and formerly have been so many false and detestable Opinions Errors and cursed Heresies in the world Alas the Devil this way endeavours to obstruct and hinder the Gospel from being received he has indeed strove a long time wholly to overthrow the very foundation of the Christian Religion and to bring in another Gospel he strives to cheat Men of the true Saviour and in his stead to Preach another of whom the Scripture is wholly ignorant how have many Impudently asserted the Light in all men to be the true Christ and Saviour of the Word He doth not only strive to take away his glorious Soveraignity and set up another Universal Head who hath power to make Laws and repeat them in matters of Religion at his pleasure as the Followers of the Beast affirm But now of late endeavours to take away the very Person of the Holy Jesus Also to change the Ordinances or wholly to deny them hath been and is another of his Stratagems which witness to the true Christ his Death Burial and Resurrection And lastly Satan hath alwaies endeavoured also to bring into contempt the Ministers of the Gospel or else raise up Persecution upon them and all these things he doth to hinder the Gospel from shining or obstruct the promulgation thereof The Kisses of Christ's Mouth Cant. 1.2 Let him kiss me with the Kisses of his Mouth for thy Love is better than Wine LEt him that is Christ kiss me By these Expressions saith Ainsworth and others the Church desireth to have Christ manifested in the Flesh. Others by Kisses understand most friendly familiar and sensible Manifestations of Love for they are so amongst Friends as 't was betwixt Jonathan and David and so 't is between Husband and Wife It is evident that Kisses are mentioned on sundry Occasions used for divers Ends and signifying several Things 1. We read of a Kiss of Salutation 1 Sam. 20.41 1 Thess. 5.26 2. A Kiss of Valediction Ruth 2.9 3. A Kiss of Reconciliation 2 Sam. 14.33 4. A Kiss of Subjection Psal. 2.12 5. A Kiss of Approbation Prov. 2.4 6. A Kiss of Adoration 1 Kings 19.18 7. A trayterous Kiss Mat. 26.49 8. A Kiss of Affection Gen. 45.15 And since the Church desires in the Plural Number Kisses of Christ's Mouth it may refer 1. To a Kiss of Reconciliation or Manifestation of Peace Unity and Friendship 2. A Kiss of Affection which is very sweet to have Christ express or manifest his gracious Love to her 3. A Kiss of Approbation which is saith Mr. Guild sweetest of all The Text is purely Allegorical as the whole Song is acknowledged to be by all Divines METAPHOR KIsses betoken Love and Good-Will to the Party they are given to II. They betoken a hearty Conjunction and cordial Union of two Parties III. They betoken such a Friendship as allows a Liberty of Access and Communication at all times IV. They leave such Impressions as engage the Affections to a future Remembrance of the Object V. They oblige the Giver to shew further Favours and Acts of Love and Kindness to the Party he bestows them on VI. They are a Confirmation of the endeared Love and Reality we profess VII They are the Privilege and Right in a more peculiar manner of Covenant-Relations as Husband and Wife c. VIII In Reconciliation after a seeming Breach between dear Relations they are highly prized and longed for by the Party offending IX A Kiss is look'd upon as a very high Honour when received by an inferior Person from a great King or Prince and begets in others a longing after the like Manifestation of Sovereign Grace and Favour X. They are very sweet and comfortable to very dear Friends after long absence XI They are the first Ceremony or Initiation of kind and comfortable Entertainment as in the case of the profuse and extravagant Prodigal XII To be admitted to kiss the hand of a Prince is a great Honour because of his Royalty and Grandure but to kiss his Mouth is extraordinary and only allowed to great Favourites Parallel THe Spouse in the Text desires of the Lord Jesus Tokens or further Manifestations of his Love and Good-Will to her II. The Church desires further Tokens and Assurances of that blessed Conjunction and Union that is between her self and the Lord Jesus Christ. III. Gracious Souls desire a more near Access